AON Imposes Lifetime No-Fly Ban on Passenger After Violent Incident Aboard Ibom Air
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has enforced a lifetime no-fly ban on Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of committing a violent assault on Ibom Air crew members during a flight from Uyo to Lagos. The ban, which applies to all AON-affiliated airlines, both domestic and international, takes effect immediately.
AON’s spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, condemned the incident as one of the most egregious cases of unruly behavior recorded in 2025. The situation began when Emmanson refused to turn off her mobile phone as instructed before takeoff. It escalated when a fellow passenger intervened to silence the phone, leading Emmanson into a verbal outburst.
Upon landing in Lagos, Emmanson allegedly confronted the cabin purser, the crew member who had given the instruction. In a shocking turn, she reportedly tore off the purser’s wig and glasses, assaulted her physically using her footwear, and slapped another crew member who tried to step in. She then attempted to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon, an act that could have endangered not only the crew and passengers but also the aircraft itself.
Security personnel from Ibom Air and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) attempted to intervene, but Emmanson allegedly assaulted them as well, even after leaving the plane. Authorities later detained her, and she has since been charged and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.
AON commended Ibom Air for its prompt and professional handling of the situation, and also highlighted two recent unresolved airport incidents involving musician K1 De Ultimate and Senator Adams Oshiomhole. The organization used the incident to urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen security protocols across all airports. AON reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on unruly passenger behavior, emphasizing that future offenders will face similar consequences.