AON Imposes Lifetime Flight Ban on Ibom Air Unruly Passenger

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, following her alleged assault on airline officials aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Lagos.

Ms Emmanson got into an altercation with the Air Hostess when she was requested to switch off her phone, but she insisted that it was on aeroplane mode. According to a fellow passenger, another passenger collected the phone from her and switched it off, an act which resulted in a confrontation.

When the aeroplane got to Lagos State, the crew stopped the lady from alighting and instead called the airport security on her.

In a statement by Ibom Air, Ms
Emmanson’s behaviour was considered “violent and unruly,” necessitating intervention by the flight crew and airport authorities upon landing.

In response, the AON, a coalition representing domestic airline operators, announced the permanent ban, stating that such behaviour would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Following her arrest, Ms. Emmanson was arraigned before a magistrate court in Lagos and has been remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Facility pending further legal proceedings.