PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
Uyo, 11 August 2025
Incident Involving an Unruly Passenger on August 10, 2025
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 theaircraft.
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.
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.
We commend 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.
Safety remains our highest priority. We urge all passengers to comply with crew instructions at all times for the safety, security, and comfort of everyone on board.
Signed
Ibom Airlines Limited
For Immediate Release
Uyo, 11 August 2025
Incident Involving an Unruly Passenger on August 10, 2025
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 theaircraft.
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.
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.
We commend 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.
Safety remains our highest priority. We urge all passengers to comply with crew instructions at all times for the safety, security, and comfort of everyone on board.
Signed
Ibom Airlines Limited
Bad behaviour.
ReplyDeleteSimply putting your phone in airplane mode without even asked would have helped her avoid this. Now she’s even in deeper trouble than she could have ever imagined.
ReplyDeleteHer phone was on airplane mode, stories are that the flight attendants are quite rude especially one in particular who happens to be the prime instigator
DeleteUnable go charge hefty fees, delay flights with no explanation or apologies and think everyone is as calm as me.
ReplyDeleteI faced delays and rudeness with calmness and still had to handle the threat of loosing my job from the permsec and associated goons.
Not everyone is me
If you like don’t be calm, go around attacking people physically, and see what will happen. As if u have an option not to be calm. If u don’t like their action, go the legal way the same way they are doing now, we are not in animal kingdom at. Least her actions now have proven that.
DeleteAnd was there actions fair on her
Delete#their
Deleteomo......what a bad behavior
ReplyDeleteShe faces jail time and potential ban from flying. simple instruction.
ReplyDeleteNigeria has been so lawless because the the government don't enforce these laws.
Bad behaviour gets you nothing. Some people will soon start traveling by water due to their nonsense attitude.
ReplyDeleteThis girl should have done better and avoided this incident and life damage.
ReplyDeleteShe could have switched on to Instagram live and record the scenes. They wouldn't have treated her this way and she wouldn't have had the audacity to slap her elder.
In Nigeria where injustice is the order of the day, drop your stubbornness at home and behave yourself while in the public or else you go collect wetin no good.
Bad character
ReplyDeleteSuch a terrible behavior, public disgrace that would have been avoided. Good radiance!!
ReplyDeleteAnger issue don turn to calm issue
ReplyDeleteDid u watch the video where her top was pulled, like they intentionally wanted to embarrass that lady.
ReplyDeleteIf she had behaved well. Her cloths will not be pulled. So.many ladies where in that same flight with her and non was asulted or had her cloths pulled. Action begets action.
DeleteTwo wrongs doesn't make a right. There are still measures to go about it professionally.
DeleteShe should get a good lawyer and sue them, but this country sha. Hmmm
ReplyDeleteLeave my child for.me. Don't ever touch my child or you will.have me to contend with. The child grows and feels above the law even on simple matters.
ReplyDeleteNo matter who you are, learn to respect others. It pays.