The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Ibom Air have jointly imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on Comfort Emmanson after she allegedly assaulted multiple crew members and security staff during and after a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday.

In separate statements on Monday, AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo and Ibom Air confirmed that the incident was “one of the most severe cases of unruly passenger behaviour witnessed in recent years.”

According to Ibom Air, trouble began before departure from Uyo when Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone, only complying after intervention from another passenger. The airline said this led to a verbal outburst, but the situation was calmed and the flight departed as scheduled.

Upon arrival at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, Emmanson allegedly waited until other passengers had disembarked before confronting the Purser who had instructed her earlier. She was said to have stepped on the Purser, forcibly removed her wig and glasses, threw them to the floor, and slapped her repeatedly.

When another cabin crew member intervened, Emmanson allegedly assaulted her too, before attempting to seize a fire extinguisher — an act the airline said could have damaged the aircraft. She then attacked Ibom Air and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security personnel, as well as the ground supervisor.

Ibom Air said she was eventually restrained and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, with a report submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

AON fully endorsed Ibom Air’s handling of the situation and announced that Emmanson is now banned from flying with any of its member airlines, both domestically and internationally.

“This was not just disruptive; it was a sustained, violent attack that placed the lives of crew and passengers, as well as the safety of the aircraft, at risk,” AON stated. “We stand united with our members in maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards unruly passengers.”

The association also urged FAAN to review and tighten security at airports nationwide, warning that any passenger exhibiting similar behaviour would face the same consequence.

The incident comes days after the NCAA imposed a six-month ban on Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, over unruly conduct at Abuja airport.