Lagos – A female passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, caused chaos on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos after violently attacking cabin crew members and attempting to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, August 10, 2025, led to her forcible removal from the aircraft by security personnel.
The altercation began before takeoff when Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone despite repeated instructions from the crew. She only complied after the Pilot-in-Command intervened, prompting a fellow passenger to seize and turn off her device. This triggered a verbal outburst from Emmanson, though the flight proceeded without further incident until landing.
Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson waited until other passengers disembarked before launching a physical assault on the purser. Eyewitnesses and a viral video show her stepping on the crew member, tearing off her wig, smashing her glasses, and repeatedly slapping her. When another crew member tried to intervene, Emmanson attacked her as well.
In a more dangerous escalation, she attempted to grab a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon—an act that could have grounded the aircraft. The Pilot-in-Command alerted airport security, but before they arrived, the purser blocked Emmanson from leaving the plane.
Even after Ibom Air security and FAAN officials arrived, Emmanson continued her violent outbursts, assaulting multiple personnel, including slapping a ground supervisor. She was eventually restrained and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.
Ibom Air has since banned Emmanson from future flights and reported the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). In a statement, the airline condemned her actions, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior.
“We commend our crew’s professionalism in handling this situation and thank security agencies for their swift response,”* the airline stated. *”Safety remains our top priority, and we will take the strongest measures against any threat to it.”
The incident has sparked discussions on passenger conduct and airline safety protocols, with many calling for stricter penalties for such offenses.
