Ibom Air released an official statement on August 11, 2025, addressing an incident involving a disruptive passenger on their flight from Uyo to Lagos that happened the day before.
The airline confirmed that on Sunday, August 10, a passenger named Ms. Comfort Emmanson caused serious safety concerns during the flight.
Before takeoff, Ms. Emmanson was asked, following usual safety rules, to turn off her mobile phone. She refused at first until the pilot made an announcement.
Then, another passenger nearby switched off her phone for her. Ms. Emmanson reacted angrily but eventually calmed down, and the flight took off on time.
After landing in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited until all other passengers had left the plane before confronting a crew member who had earlier asked her to switch off her phone.
She physically attacked the Purser, stepping on her, pulling off her wig, throwing her glasses to the floor, and hitting her with her shoe.
When another crew member tried to help, Ms. Emmanson hit her as well. She even tried to grab a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, which could have caused major damage to the plane.
By then, the pilot had called airport security. The Purser held the passenger on the plane until security arrived. However, Ms. Emmanson continued to fight violently against Ibom Air security and airport security officers.
She was finally restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Outside the plane, she kept assaulting security staff, including the ground supervisor.
Ms. Emmanson was taken off the airport ramp by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigerian Police for investigation.
Ibom Air reported the event to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and has banned Ms. Emmanson from flying with them again.
The airline emphasized that they have zero tolerance for violent or unruly behavior that threatens the safety of passengers, crew, or aircraft. They promise strict actions, including legal steps and lifetime bans from their services.
Ibom Air praised the courage and professionalism of their crew during this difficult event, and thanked airport security and the police for their quick response.
The airline reminded all passengers to always follow crew instructions to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while flying.
