To what has been described as what is frequent with Africa – Europe bound flights, the uncultured attitudes of foreign airlines spraying insecticide on passengers travelling from Africa to Europe before taking off has been totally condemned.
Describing his experience when boarding the flight “Virgin Atlantic”, a Nigerian known as Chukwudi Dikko said that the exercise has been going on for a while, but he decided to challenge the practice by confronting the pilot and staff of the flight taking off from Lagos to London.
Dikko who was not satisfied with idea of spraying insecticide asked to see the aircraft manager for explanation and clarification. In her explanation, the flight manager explained that the insecticide was safe, non- toxic and was necessary to kill insects brought on the aircraft by passengers.
Dikko challenged the idea of spraying insecticide in the cabin as silly at best and “that if the insecticide could kill insects, it cannot be safe for humans to inhale especially in a closed area like the airplane cabin without natural air ventilation”
He further asserted that it was dangerous to spray the insecticides directly on people, some of whom might be allergic or sensitive to the insecticides.
WHEN HE ASKED THE FLIGHT MANAGER WHY THE PRACTICE WAS ONLY PERFORMED ON AIRPLANES FLYING FROM AFRICA, SHE SAID THAT IT WAS COMPANY POLICY AND SHE WAS MERELY EXECUTING THE POLICY
Dikko has proceeded to demand for an official incident report of sensitivity and reaction to the spraying that will be filed with Virgin Atlantic and the Department of Public Health in New York.
He said he has also demanded and obtained the canister of the insecticide which the warning label clearly cautions against breathing the insecticide directly, and providing warning to people with respiratory problems and sensitivity before spraying. It also warns against exposure to food and eating utensils.
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