Ibom Air has released a statement after an incident with a passenger on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The airline said the passenger is now banned from flying with them again.
The woman, Comfort Emmanson, was seen in a viral video causing trouble on the flight and refusing to listen to the pilot’s instructions.
Ibom Air told Daily Sun on Monday that the woman has been handed over to the police for further investigation.
The airline explained that the incident happened on a flight from Uyo to Lagos. Ms. Emmanson acted in a way that put the safety of the crew, passengers, and aircraft at risk.
Before takeoff, Ms. Emmanson was asked to turn off her phone, which is a normal safety rule. She refused to do it until the pilot made an announcement. A passenger sitting next to her then turned off her phone, which made her angry. She started shouting, but the situation was eventually calmed, and the flight took off.
After landing in Lagos, she waited until everyone had left the plane and then attacked the flight attendant (Purser) who had told her to turn off her phone. She stepped on her, pulled off her wig, broke her glasses, and beat her with a shoe. She also slapped another crew member who tried to help. She even tried to grab a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, which could have caused serious damage.
The pilot had already called airport security. Before they arrived, the flight attendant stopped Ms. Emmanson from leaving the plane. When security showed up, she attacked them too. She had to be physically restrained and taken off the plane. Even after that, she kept hitting security staff and also slapped the ground supervisor.
She was then taken off the airport runway by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigerian police for more investigation.
Ibom Air said they have reported the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and have officially banned Ms. Emmanson from flying with them again.
The airline said it has zero tolerance for violent or unruly behavior that puts others at risk. They warned that such actions will lead to legal consequences and a permanent ban from flying with them.
Ibom Air praised their staff for staying calm and professional during the difficult situation. They also thanked airport security and the police for their quick response.
The airline ended by saying that passenger safety is their top priority. They asked all passengers to always follow the crew’s instructions to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.
