By Emmanuel Nduka
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime “no-fly” ban on Comfort Emmanson, a passenger involved in a violent incident aboard Ibom Air Flight Q9 303 from Uyo to Lagos, even as she has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for assaulting airline staff.
AON spokesperson, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, described Emmanson’s behaviour as one of the most egregious cases of unruly passenger conduct witnessed this year. The sanction, which takes immediate effect, bars her from flying on any AON member airline, both domestically and internationally.
Her Offence
Heritage Times HT reports that the incident began before take-off in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday, when Emmanson repeatedly refused to switch off her phone despite safety reminders from crew members.
A fellow passenger reportedly switched it off, triggering a verbal outburst. Upon arrival in Lagos, she allegedly waited until other passengers disembarked before launching an unprovoked attack on the purser, stepping on her, tearing off her wig and glasses, and striking her with a shoe.
The situation further escalated when she allegedly attempted to seize a fire extinguisher, endangering passengers, crew, and the aircraft. She was eventually restrained by other crew members and airport security, removed from the aircraft, and handed over to the authorities.
The Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, confirmed on Monday via a post on X that Emmanson had been charged to court. “The more reason the flying public should be more careful — the unruly passenger on the Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood stated.
Gone Viral
A video of the confrontation, widely circulated on social media, shows Emmanson in a heated exchange with Ibom Air crew and airport security. The airline said her conduct represented a serious safety threat, leading it to impose its own travel ban against her in addition to the AON sanction.
AON commended Ibom Air for promptly handling the matter, reaffirming its “zero-tolerance policy” toward unruly behaviour.
Okonkwo referenced similar recent incidents involving musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1) and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and also called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to improve airport security response protocols nationwide.
