Mental Health Challenge Gives More Concern Than September 11 Incident, Says Expert
The Managing Director of Green Light Limited, an aviation security expert Mr. Philip Baum has said that mental health issues have become of more concern to the aviation industry than the famous September 11, 2001 terrorism incident that occurred in the United States of America.
Speaking at the Nigeria Aviation Security 2025 Workshops and Exercises organized for Networking Government Security Agencies And Civil Aviation Operations by Centurion Aviation Security & Safety Management Limited in partnership with Green Light, Baum said within the last 35 years, more people have lost their lives on aircraft as a result of suicide by pilots, not because of terrorism. This is a fallout of mental health issues.
He noted that in 2024, there was one unruly passenger incident for every 395 flights globally and advised that every stringent security measure taken on international flights should be applied on domestic flights to ensure security of passenger and aircraft since every such incident affects external perception about the country’s national security.
Baum identified factors responsible for the growing industry security threats as personnel complacency, failure to truly test competence, excessive reliance on technology, silo mentality of security agencies and failure to implement anti-threats to future aviation security.
He noted that 53 chemical and biological weapon attempts were interrupted in the United Kingdom in 2024, stating that poor infrastructure weakens implementation of ICAO Annex 17 provisions. He encouraged countries to always be ready for ICAO’s security audit rather than wait for last minute preparations for such exercise.
In his presentation, a retired Major in the Bangledesh Army, Saiful Islam called for removal of vulnerabilities in aviation such as distraction, de-motivation and disengagement, maintaining that digital distraction (addiction to mobile phones by personnel) was a major distraction that should be addressed alongside de-motivation elements such as pay issues and limited advancement opportunity (for junior personnel in the system), shift fatigue, minimal recognition, public pressure and aggressive passengers. He also identified reduced initiatives and tunnel vision as silent threats to aviation security.
The Managing Director of Centurion Aviation Security & Safety Management Limited, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu (Rtd) re-emphasized the necessity of a better coordination of the various security agencies at the airport under a centralized control approach. He urged participants to encourage their leaderships at the various agencies to approve and support implementation of aviation security provisions in a manner that will enhance national security.
Theme of the on-going weeklong event holding October 13 to 18, 2025 at NCAA Annex, Lagos, is Airports & Airspace Security: Functions Of National Security.
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