Ibom Air has permanently banned passenger Comfort Emmanson after a violent assault on crew members.
The airline says she defied safety instructions, attacked staff, and endangered the aircraft during the Uyo–Lagos flight.
Ibom Air has imposed a permanent travel ban on a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, following a violent incident aboard its Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
According to the airline, the confrontation began shortly before take-off from Uyo, when Ms. Emmanson allegedly refused to switch off her mobile phone despite repeated instructions from the cabin crew. She only complied after the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement and another passenger intervened to turn off the device. The action sparked a verbal outburst from Ms. Emmanson, though the situation was briefly contained and the flight departed on schedule.
Upon arrival in Lagos, events escalated dramatically. Ibom Air reports that Ms. Emmanson waited until other passengers had disembarked before confronting the Purser who had earlier addressed her. She allegedly stepped on the crew member, forcibly removed her wig and glasses, and used her footwear to assault her. She also slapped the Purser multiple times and struck another crew member who attempted to intervene.
The airline further stated that Ms. Emmanson tried to remove a fire extinguisher from its bracket an action that could have damaged the aircraft before being stopped.
The Pilot-in-Command had already alerted airport security, and viral video footage from the scene shows the Purser preventing Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft until help arrived. However, Ibom Air says the passenger also attacked its security personnel on arrival, and later slapped the airline’s ground supervisor.
She was eventually restrained, removed from the ramp, and handed over to the Nigeria Police by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security team for further investigation.
Ibom Air has reported the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and announced that Ms. Emmanson will never again be allowed to fly on its aircraft.
The airline condemned the attack, reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on unruly or violent behavior that endangers passengers, crew, or equipment. “Such behavior will be met with the strongest possible response, including legal action and permanent restriction from our services,” the statement read.
Ibom Air also praised the bravery and professionalism of its crew, along with the swift intervention by airport security and the police. It reiterated that passenger compliance with crew instructions is vital to ensuring safety and comfort for all on board.
