Ibom Air has announced a travel ban on a female passenger accused of physically attacking members of its cabin crew during a recent flight.
Viral videos circulated on X (formerly Twitter) showed the woman aggressively confronting a flight attendant on board, as well as engaging in a heated exchange with airport security personnel.
The incident reportedly occurred on the airline’s Uyo–Lagos service on Sunday, the same day the footage began trending online.
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In a statement released on Monday, Ibom Air confirmed the events, identifying the passenger as Comfort Emmanson. The carrier stated that her conduct posed a serious risk to “the safety of our crew, passengers, and aircraft,” adding that she had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and would be barred from using its services in the future.
“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,” the statement reads.
According to the airline, trouble began before departure when Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone as instructed under standard safety protocols. It took a public announcement from the Pilot-in-Command and the intervention of a fellow passenger to power off the device.
“This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled,” the airline noted.
Matters escalated upon arrival in Lagos when Emmanson allegedly waited for all other passengers to exit before confronting the Purser who had earlier spoken to her. Ibom Air reported that she stepped on the crew member, pulled off her wig and glasses, threw them to the floor, and struck her with a shoe.
“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.
”The pilot subsequently called for security assistance. 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 both Ibom Air and FAAN security,” the statement continued.
“She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, she continued to assault both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff, 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 stressed its zero-tolerance stance against any violent or disruptive behaviour that endangers passengers, staff, or aircraft.
This confrontation comes just days after a separate airport controversy involving Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, who was accused of spilling an alcoholic drink on airport staff while boarding a ValueJet flight at Abuja’s domestic terminal.
