A female passenger has been permanently banned from flying with Ibom Air following a violent incident involving the airline’s crew members at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The passenger, identified as Comfort Emmanson, was accused of physically assaulting staff and disrupting operations after arriving from Uyo on an Ibom Air flight.
According to the airline, the confrontation began before departure when Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone despite repeated instructions from the pilot. A fellow passenger eventually turned it off, prompting an angry verbal outburst from her. The situation appeared to calm during the flight but escalated upon arrival in Lagos.
Witnesses reported that after other passengers had disembarked, Emmanson attacked the Purser, stepping on her, tearing off her wig, smashing her glasses, and repeatedly slapping her. She allegedly assaulted a second crew member who tried to intervene. The incident intensified when she attempted to remove a fire extinguisher from the aircraft, a move that could have caused significant operational delays.
Security officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) intervened, but the passenger reportedly continued her aggression, slapping the airline’s ground supervisor before being overpowered and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force.
Ibom Air confirmed it has reported the matter to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, stressing its zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior that endangers flight safety and crew welfare. The airline also assured passengers that it would continue to enforce strict measures to protect staff and maintain order on its flights.