Media personality Ngizwe Mchunu, left. Picture: System
Controversial media personality, of Ukhozi FM fame, Ngizwe Mchunu has been placed on a “no-fly list” and banned from travelling with domestic low-cost carrier FlySafair.
In a video shared to social media platforms, an inflamed Mchunu said the airline sent him a letter notifying him of his suspension from flying with the airline.
Ngizwe Mchunu is giving Fly SAfair 7 days to apologise to him and the entire Zulu kingdom for issuing him with a suspension letter from travelling with the airline.
— m a s h è s h a 💨 (@_mashesha) September 5, 2024
He also wants an urgent meeting with your CEO @FlySafair pic.twitter.com/RgBok8j0cv
Mchunu and a group he was travelling with caused a stir on FlySafair flight FA196 travelling from King Shaka International Airport in Durban to Cape Town International Airport on Saturday, August 24.
In a video of the incident, shared on X and TikTok, Mchunu is seen quarrelling with a flight attendant.
After he received the airline’s letter, Mchunu asked to meet the airline’s CEO and requested an apology.
He described his actions on the flight as his way of paying homage to King Shaka, whom Durban’s airport is named after.
When questioned about the details of the suspension letter to Mchunu, FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said that out of respect for customer confidentiality, he could not divulge Mchunu’s status with regard to the “No-Fly List”.
He said that when it came to adding passengers to the list, the airline followed its policy.
“Customers are added to our No-Fly list at the discretion of the airline. The criteria usually involves things like any acts of fraud, acts or threats of violence against our staff or the contraventions of any aviation regulations as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
“Examples of the latter could be things like smoking on board, tampering with aircraft equipment, disregarding the seatbelt signs or refusing the instructions of a crew member,” said Gordon.
On how the bans were implemented, he said that bookings were monitored using the customers details and were cancelled by the system. Airports were also informed on who to decline.