Ibom Air Passenger Who Assaulted Crew Remanded in Kirikiri as Aviation Authorities Clamp Down on Unruly Behaviour
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

A female passenger, Miss Comfort Emmanson, accused of physically assaulting airline officials aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been formally charged to court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.

The development was confirmed on Monday by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, in a post on his official X handle.
“The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on the Uyo–Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood wrote.

The case has drawn national attention amid renewed warnings from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) about stricter enforcement measures against disruptive passengers, following an increase in such incidents at Nigerian airports.

According to reports, the incident occurred aboard an Ibom Air flight scheduled from Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. In a viral video that circulated widely on social media, Emmanson was seen repeatedly slapping a Purser — the senior cabin crew member — after being asked to comply with pre-flight safety procedures by switching off her mobile phone.

Ibom Air, in an official statement on Monday, confirmed that Emmanson had been banned indefinitely from flying with the airline. The carrier explained that the confrontation began before take-off when she refused to turn off her phone, despite repeated instructions. A fellow passenger, seated beside her, eventually switched off the device, an action that allegedly triggered a heated verbal exchange.

The airline alleged that upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson confronted the purser again and physically assaulted her, further escalating the situation by attempting to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher in what the airline described as “an intention to damage and ground the aircraft.” Ibom Air stressed that such conduct posed a serious safety threat not only to the crew and passengers but also to the integrity of the aircraft itself.

Aviation experts say the incident underscores the growing concern about unruly behaviour among airline passengers, a problem that has become more visible in recent months. This case follows another high-profile aviation disruption involving Fuji music legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1), who was accused of attempting to prevent a ValueJet aircraft from taking off after being deboarded.

The FCT Police Command and aviation security authorities have reiterated that acts of aggression or non-compliance aboard an aircraft will be met with the full weight of the law, citing the necessity to safeguard the safety and security of air travel in Nigeria.

Miss Emmanson remains in detention at Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending further court proceedings, while the aviation sector watches closely to see if this case sets a stronger precedent for handling similar incidents in the future.

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