Airline operators ban passenger for life, jailed after assaulting flight crew
A Nigerian passenger, Comfort Emmanson, has been banned for life from flying on all domestic airlines after allegedly assaulting an Ibom Air cabin crew member.
The incident, which occurred on a flight from Uyo to Lagos, has also led to Emmanson being charged in court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body for domestic airlines, issued the lifetime ban as part of a “zero-tolerance stance” against unruly passenger behavior.
The spokesperson for the Minister of Aviation, Tunde Moshood, confirmed Emmanson’s remand in a post on X, noting that such incidents will now face swift and decisive consequences.
READ ALSO: Ibom Air bans passenger after violent assault on crew, staff (Video)
“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 in court, and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood stated.
According to Ibom Air, the conflict began before takeoff when Emmanson refused to turn off her mobile phone, a standard safety procedure. When a fellow passenger switched off the phone for her, Emmanson reportedly started a verbal tirade. The situation escalated after the plane landed in Lagos, where she allegedly physically assaulted the flight attendant who had initially given the instruction.
Videos of the altercation circulated on social media, showing Emmanson arguing aggressively with the crew and later confronting airport security.
Ibom Air called her conduct “completely unacceptable” and a serious threat to the safety of the crew, passengers, and the aircraft. The airline initially issued a permanent ban on her from flying on any of its aircraft, a sanction that was then extended by the AON to cover all Nigerian domestic airlines.
Aviation expert Bidemi Olalekan told News Point Nigeria that the swift action is a clear signal that unruly conduct will no longer be tolerated.
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“This aligns with global aviation safety practices, where physical or verbal assault against crew members often leads to severe penalties, including lifetime bans and criminal prosecution,” Olalekan said.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has also promised to increase enforcement against disorderly passengers, warning that future violators should expect rapid legal and administrative action.
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