Akwa Ibom State owned airline, Ibom Air has reacted to the altercation involving a passenger, Comfort Emmanson and its cabin crew on August 10, 2025
A video circulating online had the passenger slapping a female cabin crew, after which, an airport security took her away and her clothes were torn in the process.
In a press release on Monday, Ibom Air explained that shortly before take-off from Uyo, Ms. Emmanson was instructed in line with standard aviation safety procedures, to switch off her mobile phone.
She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.
This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.
The statement said upon arrival in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the Purser who had earlier instructed her.
The statement in parts, “She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw it to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her. She slapped her several times and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.
“By this time, the Pilot-in-Command had alerted airport security. Before security could arrive, the Purser was seen on a viral video on the internet, preventing the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived.
”The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel, did not deter the passenger as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at the security personnel. She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, she continued to assault Ibom Air security personnel, and even slapped the ground supervisor.”
The statement said the passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. It added that the Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and placed a travel restriction on Ms. Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft.
