Ibom Air bans passenger for assaulting crew members

Ibom Air has banned a passenger, one Ms. Comfort Emmanson, from flying any of its aircraft over the alleged assault on its crew members and a co-passenger. Emmanson had reportedly attacked her victims on Sunday upon arriving Lagos airport from Uyo after the crew complained over her refusal to switch off her phone during the […]

Ibom Air has banned a passenger, one Ms. Comfort Emmanson, from flying any of its aircraft over the alleged assault on its crew members and a co-passenger.

Emmanson had reportedly attacked her victims on Sunday upon arriving Lagos airport from Uyo after the crew complained over her refusal to switch off her phone during the flight.

Emmanson was said to have stepped on her fellow passenger, forcefully removed her wig and eye glasses, threw them on the floor, and assaulted her.

The airline also accused her of slapping cabin crew members who tried to intervene, and attempting to use one of the fire extinguishers on the aircraft as a weapon, but was stopped by airport security officials who handed her over to the police.

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In a statement signed by the Group Manager, Marketing and Communications, Mrs Aniekan Essienette, on Monday in Uyo, Ibom Air stated that the actions of Emmanson posed a serious threat to the safety of the crew, passengers, and aircraft, and capable of damaging and grounding the aircraft, warning that such would not be tolerated.

The statement read, “Ibom Air confirms that on Sunday, August 10, 2025, an incident occurred on board our Uyo–Lagos flight involving a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, whose conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of our crew, passengers, and aircraft.

“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.

“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.

“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, as seen on the viral video on the internet, prevented 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 passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

“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.”