A female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who assaulted Ibom Air crew members and clashed with airport security at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport, has been charged to court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.
Mr. Tunde Moshood, spokesperson to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the development on X, warning that the case underscores the need for air travellers to conduct themselves responsibly.
The incident occurred on Sunday during an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos. According to the airline, trouble began when Emmanson refused instructions to switch off her mobile phone before take-off. She only complied after the pilot-in-command made an announcement and a fellow passenger switched off the device on her behalf, prompting a heated verbal outburst.
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Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson allegedly waited for all passengers to disembark before confronting the Purser who had given the earlier instruction. The airline reports that she stepped on the crew member, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses, struck her with her footwear, and slapped her several times. Another cabin crew member who tried to intervene was also slapped.
In a further escalation, Emmanson attempted to seize a fire extinguisher — an action that could have endangered the aircraft — before being restrained. Viral videos show her resisting attempts to leave the plane, attacking both Ibom Air and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security staff, and even slapping the airline’s ground supervisor after disembarking.
She was taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation. Ibom Air has submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and imposed a permanent travel ban on her.
