Ibom Air has banned a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, after she assaulted crew members and airport security on a flight from Uyo to Lagos.
The incident went through viral videos on social media showing the passenger physically attacking airline staff and clashing with security at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport on Sunday.
Before takeoff, Emmanson refused to switch off her phone despite instructions from the cabin crew and the pilot. Eventually, another passenger switched off the phone, but Emmanson verbally lashed out. The flight proceeded as scheduled.
After arriving in Lagos and once other passengers had disembarked, Emmanson confronted the purser who had asked her to turn off the phone. Witnesses say she stepped on the purser, tore off her wig, removed her glasses, threw them to the floor, and assaulted her repeatedly with slaps and her footwear. When another crew member intervened, Emmanson also slapped her. She tried to grab a fire extinguisher, posing a serious safety risk.
Airport security, alerted by the pilot, intervened but Emmanson resisted and attacked both Ibom Air and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security personnel. She was forcibly removed from the aircraft and taken into custody by police for further investigation.
Ibom Air issued a statement confirming the incident and announcing that Emmanson has been banned from flying with the airline. The airline also reported the matter to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Recall, Daily Tech Nigeria, on the 8th of August, 2025, reported a similar incident where Kwam 1 ( K1 De Ultimate ) reportedly tried to carry an undisclosed liquid onto the plane, which aviation rules forbid unless declared and special permission is given. When security officers asked him to comply, he refused and allegedly spilled what was later confirmed as alcohol on one of the officers.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at Ibom Air, emphasized that passengers must follow simple safety rules, like turning off phones during takeoff and landing, to avoid such serious incidents. Further updates are expected as investigations continue.
