• Emmanson yet to decide on lawsuit against airline, says lawyer
• Akande slams FG over ambassadorial award on KWAM 1

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has lifted the flight ban on the Ibom Air unruly passenger, Comfort Emmanson, following intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

Spokesperson of the AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, said the minister had appealed to them to lift the lifetime ban placed on the unruly passenger to fly on any aircraft belonging to any member of the AON.

He said: “The decision was taken after considering all the circumstances of the matter, including the exhibition of remorse for her behaviour, the withdrawal of the complaint and consequent striking out of the charges against Emmanson, as well as her release from custody.”

The AON also called on relevant aviation agencies to immediately commence the sensitisation of the public on the dangers and consequences of unruly behaviour at airport terminals and onboard aircraft, as spelt out in Section 85 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022 and Part 17 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, 2023.

It said that passengers should be aware that unruly and disruptive behaviour at airport terminals and onboard aircraft poses a danger to flight safety, saying that such offences, under the law, are punishable with a fine or imprisonment, or both.

Okonkwo highlighted the unruly behaviour to include assaulting, intimidating, or threatening any flight or cabin crew member, using a mobile phone and/or other communication/electronic gadget on board aircraft against the instruction of the pilot-in-command or flight crew or cabin crew, among others.

The body reiterated the power of the pilot-in-command or an AVSEC officer, as provided in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, to restrain and de-board an unruly and disruptive passenger and to take all necessary measures to protect the safety of the aircraft, the terminal building or of persons and property therein, to maintain good order and discipline on board or at the terminal building and to enable him deliver such person to competent authorities.

It said that its members should cooperate with the relevant aviation agencies and participate in the retraining retreats on how to handle cases of unruly and disruptive passengers, as proposed by the minister.

The AON reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards unruly passengers’ behaviour and enjoined aggrieved passengers to follow proper channels in expressing their grievances.

MEANWHILE, Emmanson’s lawyer, Adefunke Maria, has said that her client was yet to decide whether to pursue legal action against the carrier. The lawyer disclosed this, yesterday, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Maria, who berated the actions of the flight attendant, said: “On the way forward, whether Comfort will allow sleeping dogs to lie, she will inform us. We can’t disclose that online.

“She is a full-grown adult. If she chooses to press civil charges for compensation, she will let us know. For now, she just needs to rest and put herself together.” The lawyer, however, accused the airline’s staff of recording the incident and sharing the footage online, an act she strongly condemned.

HOWEVER, the erstwhile Spokesperson of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has slammed the Federal Government for bestowing an ambassador on the musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, a.k.a. KWAM 1.

Akande, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’, yesterday, faulted the speed with which the musician was honoured with such recognition after breaking the rules at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.