Ibom Air Passenger Assaults Crew, Security in Violent Outburst at Lagos Airport

A female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, caused a major disruption on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday after assaulting cabin crew members and attacking airport security personnel upon arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. The altercation was captured in several viral videos shared widely on social media. In one clip, a flight attendant is heard saying, “She (the passenger) slapped me.” Despite efforts to calm her, Emmanson had to be forcibly escorted into a vehicle by airport security.

According to Ibom Air and aviation authorities, the incident began when Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone during pre-takeoff safety procedures. She only complied after the pilot addressed the issue via intercom, and another passenger turned the phone off on her behalf. This led to an angry verbal outburst from Emmanson, although the flight eventually departed without further incident.

However, on landing in Lagos, the situation escalated. After all other passengers had disembarked, Emmanson confronted the purser who had initially given her the phone instruction. She physically assaulted the crew member by stepping on her, tearing off her wig, snatching off her glasses, and repeatedly slapping her. She also attacked another crew member who intervened and attempted to seize a fire extinguisher, potentially endangering the aircraft.

Security was quickly alerted, and although the crew managed to delay her departure from the aircraft, Emmanson continued her violent behavior. She attacked both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff, and even slapped the airline’s ground supervisor after disembarking. She was ultimately subdued and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force.

Ibom Air has filed a formal report with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and announced a travel ban on Emmanson, stating she will no longer be allowed on any of the airline’s flights.