The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Lagos.
In a statement on Monday, AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo announced that the ban takes immediate effect, preventing Emmanson from travelling with any AON member airline, domestically or internationally. The group warned that future offenders would face the same penalty.
AON condemned Emmanson’s conduct, describing it as one of the most severe cases of unruly passenger behaviour in 2025. According to Ibom Air, the incident began when Emmanson refused to follow safety instructions to switch off her mobile phone before take-off. A fellow passenger eventually switched off the device, triggering a verbal outburst.
Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson allegedly confronted the Purser who had given her the earlier instruction. Witnesses said she stepped on the crew member, forcibly removed her wig and glasses, threw them to the ground, and struck her repeatedly. She reportedly slapped another cabin crew member who tried to intervene and attempted to remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon — an act that could have caused serious damage to the aircraft.
Ibom Air stated that the passenger also attacked airline and airport security staff, slapping and lashing out violently before being forcibly restrained. Videos of the incident, which have gone viral, show her striking a flight attendant while security personnel attempted to hold her back.
AON commended Ibom Air for handling the matter swiftly and professionally. The association also urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to tighten security measures nationwide, reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on unruly passenger behaviour.
The airline later confirmed that Emmanson had been charged and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos on Monday.
The incident comes just days after Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, also known as K1 De Ultimate, received a six-month ban from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for disruptive conduct at Abuja Airport.