Unruly Passenger Incident on Ibom Air Flight Prompts Travel Ban and Police Investigation

Ibom Air has confirmed a serious onboard incident involving a passenger whose behavior endangered crew and fellow travelers on a scheduled flight from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The airline has since imposed a permanent travel restriction on the individual and submitted a formal report to aviation authorities.

According to a statement released by Ibom Airlines Limited, the passenger, identified as Ms. Comfort Emmanson, refused to comply with standard safety instructions prior to takeoff. Despite repeated requests to switch off her mobile phone, Ms. Emmanson only relented after an announcement from the Pilot-in-Command and intervention from a fellow passenger. Her reaction escalated into a verbal outburst, though the situation was temporarily de-escalated, allowing the flight to proceed as scheduled.

However, upon arrival in Lagos, the incident took a violent turn. Ms. Emmanson reportedly waited until all other passengers had disembarked before launching a physical attack on the Purser who had earlier instructed her. The assault included stepping on the crew member, forcibly removing her wig and glasses, and striking her with footwear. She also slapped another crew member who attempted to intervene and made an attempt to remove a fire extinguisher—an act that could have compromised the aircraft’s safety systems.

The Pilot-in-Command immediately alerted airport security. In a widely circulated video, the Purser is seen preventing Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft until security personnel arrived. Despite their presence, the passenger continued her aggressive behavior, attacking Ibom Air security staff and slapping the ground supervisor.

Ms. Emmanson was eventually restrained and handed over to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security, who transferred her to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

Ibom Air has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on unruly and violent conduct, emphasizing that such behavior will be met with decisive action, including legal consequences and permanent bans from its services.

“We commend the bravery and professionalism of our crew in managing this volatile situation, as well as the swift response from airport security and law enforcement,” the airline stated. “Safety remains our highest priority, and we urge all passengers to comply with crew instructions at all times to ensure a secure and comfortable travel experience.”

The airline’s decisive response underscores growing concerns within the aviation industry about passenger misconduct and reinforces the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols.