Ibom Air has banned an incensed female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, from flying on any of their planes.
Emmanson, who was sent to Kirikiri on Monday, slapped and assaulted cabin crew members of an Ibom Air on Uyo to Lagos flight.
Videos shared on X showed the female passenger attacking a flight attendant before facing off with airport security officials.
In a statement on Monday, Ibom Air confirmed that the incident happened on Sunday aboard its Uyo–Lagos flight.
The airline identified the passenger as Comfort Emmanson, saying her actions posed a serious threat to “the safety of our crew, passengers, and aircraft”.
The aviation firm said Emmanson was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and “will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft”.
“Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and placed a travel restriction on Ms. Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft,” the statement reads.
According to the airline, shortly before take-off from Uyo, “Ms. Emmanson was instructed in line with standard aviation safety procedures, to switch off her mobile phone”.
“She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off,” Ibom Air said.
“This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.
“Upon arrival in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the Purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw it to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her.
“She slapped her several times and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.”
Ibom Air said by then, the pilot-in-command had called for airport security.
“Before security could arrive, the Purser as seen on the viral video on the internet, prevented the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived. The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel, did not deter the passenger as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at both Ibom Air and FAAN security,” the airline said.
“She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, she continued to assault both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff, and even slapped the ground supervisor.
“The passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.”
The company reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew, or equipment.
