AON slams no-fly life ban on Ibom Air passenger

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a no-fly life ban on a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, for allegedly assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

The AON announced this via a statement issued by its spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, on Monday, August 11, 2025.

Okonkwo noted that the lifetime ban on Emmanson from flying with any AON member, either domestically or internationally, takes immediate effect.

Okonkwo stated: “The incident, which Ibom Air described, from the initial refusal by the passenger to comply with safety instructions regarding mobile phone usage, which led to the brutal physical assault on Ibom Air crew members and the attempted use of a fire extinguisher as a weapon, constitutes one of the most severe cases of unruly passenger behaviour witnessed this year.

“This was not just disruptive; it was a sustained, violent attack that placed the lives of crew, passengers, and the integrity of the aircraft itself at risk. This behaviour is unacceptable.

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“Therefore, effective immediately, the AON has placed Ms. Emmanson on its ‘No Fly’ list indefinitely. She is hereby banned from flying with any AON member, either domestically or internationally, for life.

“Such incidents have become one too many, with the most recent being the incident involving Nigerian musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) on ValueJet and the unruly behaviour of Senator Adams Oshiomhole towards the members of staff of Air Peace. It is also worth mentioning that this incident exposes the vulnerabilities in the security response by the Aviation Security (AVSEC).

“The AON urgently calls on FAAN to immediately review and tighten security procedures at all airports across the country. The AON stands united with Ibom Air and all our members in maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards unruly airline passengers.

“Going forward, anyone who exhibits such behaviour will suffer similar consequences. While we recognise the rights of passengers to express their grievances, such actions must follow due process. We are committed to protecting our employees, passengers, equipment, and to maintaining the highest safety standards.”

The Star