The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has issued a recent warning to travellers, outlining behaviours that will no longer be tolerated at Nigerian airports or onboard flights.
The reminder came alongside the announcement that the lifetime trail ban placed on Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson has been lifted.
Ban Lifted after authorities intervention
Comfort Emmanson became as soon as barred from flying with any AON member airline after an altercation with crew participants on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.
The sanction sparked public debate, drawing the attention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Vogue, Festus Keyamo, who stepped in to mediate.
In accordance with AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo, the ban became as soon as reversed following Emmanson’s indicate of remorse, the withdrawal of complaints against her, and the authorities’s resolution to total the matter.
As part of the resolution, AON also announced plans to retrain aviation security and airline crew on handling unruly passengers.
Airlines checklist unacceptable passenger behaviours
In the related statement, the AON outlined eight passenger actions it considers unruly, all of which will also lead to accurate penalties, including fines or imprisonment. They’re:
- Assaulting, intimidating, or threatening flight or cabin crew
- Utilizing mobile telephones or objects when suggested no longer to
- Smoking in restricted areas or onboard
- Struggling with or causing dysfunction at the terminal or in-flight
- Being a nuisance to diversified passengers
- Disobeying accurate instructions from crew, check-in group, or security
- Endangering flight security by reckless actions
- Tampering with smoke detectors or plane instruments
AON pressured out that pilots and aviation security officers hold the authority to restrain or eliminate disruptive passengers and hand them over to law enforcement.
Public sensitisation to initiate
The association has entreated aviation companies to begin public campaigns on the hazards and penalties of unruly conduct, citing the Civil Aviation Act of 2022 and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations of 2023, which classify such acts as severe offences.
While the Emmanson incident has been resolved, AON maintains a nil-tolerance policy against behaviour that will also threaten security or disrupt operations, warning that offenders will face each accurate and trail-related penalties.
