Airline operators lifts no-flight ban on Comfort Emmanson
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has lifted the lifetime ban imposed on Comfort Emmanson, earlier penalised for unruly conduct while onboard an Ibom Air plane following the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The AON in a statement by its spokesperson, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, on Thursday, said the operators agreed to lift the sanction after weighing all relevant factors, such as Emmanson’s expression of remorse, the withdrawal of the complaint, the dismissal of charges, and her release from custody.
The AON commend the Federal Government for introducing a retreat to retrain Aviation Security staff and airline crew on managing disruptive passengers.
He called on aviation agencies to enhance public awareness about the risks and legal repercussions of unruly behaviour, as provided in Section 85 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022 and Part 17 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, 2023.
In a related development, the National Association of Seadogs, also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has applauded Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo directive for a retreat to retrain aviation security personnel and review airline staff conduct.
NAS Cap’n, Dr Joseph Oteri, in a statement, said the act has improved crisis management, unbiased enforcement, and respect for human dignity during interventions will go a long way in restoring public trust in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He expressed satisfaction with the manner in which Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, handled the cases of Comfort Emmanson and Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, better known as Kwam 1.
Pyrates said the reduction of sanction imposed on Kwam 1 and the request for the withdrawal of criminal complaints against Emmanson were commendable.
Oteri said the Minister’s intervention, which emphasised de-escalation, reconciliation and capacity building for aviation security personnel, was a welcome step towards addressing public concerns about fairness and consistency in enforcement.
“From the outset, NAS made it clear that our position was not to excuse or defend unruly behaviour, but to insist that all offenders, whether high-profile or unknown, must face the same lawful consequences for breaches of aviation safety protocols.
“The Minister’s acknowledgement that wrongs were committed on all sides, and his move to review the cases holistically, aligns with our call for justice that is even-handed and corrective, not selective,” Oteri said.
The Association, however, cautioned that the clemency granted in these cases should not be misconstrued as tolerance for misconduct in the aviation sector.
“While compassion is a virtue, deterrence is a duty. Going forward, every passenger and airline staff must understand that safety rules are non-negotiable, and enforcement must be blind to status, influence, or public sympathy,” Oteri stressed.
