Unruly Passenger Causes Commotion on Ibom Air Flight, Assaults Crew in Lagos
An Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos descended into chaos on Sunday when a female passenger, later identified as Ms. Comfort Emmanson, allegedly assaulted cabin crew members and disrupted airport operations upon arrival.
Multiple videos circulating on social media showed the visibly agitated passenger jabbing a flight attendant in the head, shouting, “What did you do?” The attendant, remaining composed, replied, “She is hitting me.” In another clip, Emmanson was seen outside the aircraft screaming at airport security, swatting away cameras, and lunging at those attempting to restrain her. Her torn shirt and aggressive gestures added to the spectacle.
Eyewitnesses claimed she had earlier slapped a crew member while on board. She was eventually subdued and escorted into a waiting airport bus by security personnel.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said the altercation began when Emmanson refused to switch off her phone before take-off, defying repeated instructions from the crew. “When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff/landing, simply comply,” he wrote on X, adding that passengers must respect flight protocols.
In a press statement, Ibom Air detailed the incident, noting that Emmanson only switched off her device after another passenger intervened, triggering a verbal outburst. Upon arrival in Lagos, she allegedly confronted the purser, stepping on her, tearing off her wig and glasses, hitting her with footwear, and slapping her multiple times. She also attacked another crew member and attempted to seize a fire extinguisher — a move that could have damaged the aircraft.
Ibom Air described the behaviour as “a serious threat to the safety of our crew, passengers, and aircraft” and confirmed that the matter is now under official review.
