Airline, AON place life ban on offender
A passenger, identified as Comfort Emmanson, who assaulted airline officials on an Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo, was on Monday charged to court.
Tunde Moshood, media aide to the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, said on his X post that Emmanson had been remanded in the Kirikiri correctional facility.
Moshood’s statement came after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said enforcement action will soon become more frequent in Nigerian airports as unruly conduct by passengers becomes rampant.
“The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” he wrote.
Videos circulating on the social media showed Emmanson attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air aircraft and confronting airport security officials.
The incident, according to the airline, began shortly before take-off from Uyo when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring her to switch off her mobile phone.
Meanwhile, Keyamo condemned the release of indecent footage of the incident and directed that whoever released that part of the video among the staff be singled out and sanctioned.
The minister also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in such situations.
“Apart from the indefinite flight ban imposed on the said unruly passenger (both local and international) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the police has promptly arraigned her this morning at the Ikeja Magistrates Court for criminal offences and remanded her at Kirikiri prison as she could not provide adequate sureties in court. I have attached the Charge Sheet and Remand Order for clarity.
“We also note the scuffle that took place between the unruly passenger and ground personnel before she was eventually subdued. This was because of her uncooperative attitude. Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.
“I have also directed that the airlines must continue to train and retrain their staff in public relations and how to deal with potentially explosive situations in order to diffuse them promptly or nip them in the bud, except when it becomes inevitable. I have also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in situations like this or similar ones we witnessed recently.
“For genuinely aggrieved passengers, there are clearly laid-down remedies to address grievances. The consumer protection directorate of the NCAA has consistently advertised these remedies and there is no point trying to take the laws into one’s hands that may lead to dire consequences.”
Also the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) condemned the violent behaviour of the passenger and placed a no-fly life ban on her.
The association said this in a statement entitled ‘AON places ‘no fly’ life ban on Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson for unruly behaviour’ and signed by its spokesman, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo said it had reviewed the detailed statement issued by Ibom Air regarding the incident and commended the airline for its swift and professional handling of the incident and fully endorse the actions taken.
“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. 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 consequence. 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 maintain the highest safety standards,” the AON.
