Ibom Air Imposes Lifetime Travel Ban on Passenger After Violent In-Flight Assault
Nigerian airline Ibom Air has taken the rare and decisive step of imposing a lifetime ban on a female passenger, following a shocking act of violence on board during and after a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
According to an official statement issued by the airline on Monday, the passenger, identified as Ms. Comfort Emmanson, first ignored multiple requests from crew members to switch off her mobile phone before takeoff, violating standard safety protocols. Upon landing in Lagos, the situation quickly escalated. She approached the unsuspecting purser, stepped on her, forcibly removed the purser’s wig and glasses, and hurled the glasses to the floor. She then proceeded to physically assault her with slaps and kicks.
When another cabin crew member attempted to intervene, Emmanson assaulted her as well. The violence then intensified—she even tried to wrest a fire extinguisher from its mount, presumably to use as a weapon, potentially putting the aircraft and its passengers at grave risk.
Before airport security could arrive, the purser—seen in widely circulated video footage—stayed on the scene, preventing Emmanson from leaving the aircraft. Emmanson then turned her aggression toward the arriving security personnel, continuing to lash out until she was forcibly subdued and removed from the aircraft. Even on the tarmac, she persisted, striking the ground supervisor, according to the statement from Ibom Air.
Following the incident, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security detained her and turned her over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. Meanwhile, Ibom Air reported the assault to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and reinforced its “zero-tolerance policy” regarding any action that threatens the safety of crew members, passengers, or equipment.
Earlier coverage by SaharaReporters described the chaotic scene at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos: the outburst began with an alleged blow to a flight attendant and escalated in view of onlookers before Emmanson was eventually escorted into an airport vehicle under guard.
In response, the NCAA reminded air travelers of their responsibilities alongside their rights, issuing a stern warning that disruptive or violent behavior will not be tolerated.
Notably, this incident follows closely on the heels of another high-profile travel disruption. On August 5, 2025, legendary Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM1) was issued a flight ban by ValueJet following an altercation with the airline’s staff at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
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