The Airline Operators of Nigeria has placed a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who assaulted airline officials on an Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo on its ‘No Fly’ list for life.

The association made this announcement in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo.

The statement insisted that Emmanson was the one assaulting the crew members, adding that the ban on the passenger is indefinite.

The statement read, “We condemn the violent incident involving Ms. Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on Ibom Air flight Q9 303 from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.

“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 VajueJet and the unruly behaviour of Senator Adams Oshiomhole towards the members of staff of Air Peace.”

A video circulating on social media showed an enraged Emmanson attacking a flight attendant on an Ibom Aeroplane and confronting airport security officials.

In a statement on Monday, Ibom Air said the incident 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.

The airline said a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off, prompting a verbal tirade from Emmanson.

The aviation company said upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson proceeded to physically assault the individual who had earlier instructed her to switch off her phone.

Ibom Air said her conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.

The domestic carrier, therefore, imposed a travel restriction on her, adding that she would no longer be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft.

Meanwhile, Emmanson was earlier charged to court and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.

Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, confirmed the development in a post on his official X handle on Monday.

“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 wrote.

His statement comes amid warnings by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority that stricter enforcement actions will be taken against passengers engaging in disruptive conduct, which has been on the rise in Nigerian airports.

The airline also accused the passenger of attempt to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act they described as “an intention to damage and ground the aircraft”.