Ibom Airlines Limited has banned a passenger, identified as Comfort Emmanson, from all its flights after she physically assaulted a crew member on board.
The incident, which went viral in a video, occurred on Sunday during the airline’s Uyo–Lagos flight. According to Ibom Air, Ms. Emmanson was asked to switch off her mobile phone before take-off, in line with standard safety procedures. She refused until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger turned off the device.
The airline said this triggered a verbal outburst from Ms. Emmanson, but the situation was calmed, and the flight departed on schedule. However, upon arrival in Lagos, she allegedly waited for all passengers to disembark before confronting the Purser who had instructed her earlier.
Ibom Air reported that Ms. Emmanson stepped on the Purser, tore off her wig, removed her glasses, threw them to the floor, and assaulted her with her footwear. She also slapped another crew member who tried to intervene and attempted to remove a fire extinguisher, allegedly intending to damage the aircraft.
The Pilot-in-Command alerted security, but before they arrived, the Purser restrained Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft. Even when security personnel arrived, the passenger reportedly attacked them, and continued her assault after being removed from the plane, also slapping the airline’s ground supervisor.
She was eventually taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. Ibom Air has reported the matter to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and imposed a lifetime travel ban on Ms. Emmanson.
The airline commended its crew and security teams for handling the situation professionally under challenging circumstances.
