Ibom Air has placed a permanent travel restriction on a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, after she allegedly assaulted crew members and security personnel during and after a flight from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
According to a press statement issued by the airline, the incident began shortly before take-off from Uyo when Ms. Emmanson was instructed to switch off her mobile phone in line with standard aviation safety procedures.
The airline said she “bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement,” after which another passenger seated beside her switched off the phone. This, the airline stated, “prompted a verbal tirade” from Ms. Emmanson, but the situation was calmed and the flight departed as scheduled.
Upon arrival in Lagos, the statement noted, Ms. Emmanson waited for other passengers to disembark before confronting the Purser who had earlier instructed her to turn off the phone.
Ibom Air alleged she “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 allegedly slapped the Purser several times and attacked another cabin crew member who tried to intervene.
The airline further claimed that Ms. Emmanson then attempted to remove a fire extinguisher “to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.” The Pilot-in-Command reportedly alerted airport security, and video footage circulating online shows the Purser preventing Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft until help arrived.
Ibom Air said that even after the arrival of both Ibom Air and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security personnel, the passenger “attacked them as well, lashing out violently.” She was eventually restrained and forcibly removed from the aircraft, but allegedly continued her assault on the ramp, including slapping the ground supervisor.
The airline confirmed that FAAN security took Ms. Emmanson into custody and handed her over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.
“Ibom Air reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew, or equipment. Such behavior will be met with the strongest possible response, including legal action and permanent restriction from our services,” the statement read.
The airline commended “the bravery and professionalism of our crew in handling this situation under extremely challenging circumstances, as well as the swift support from airport security and the Nigeria Police.”
It stressed that safety remains its highest priority, urging passengers to “comply with crew instructions at all times for the safety, security, and comfort of everyone on board.”
