An Ibom Air passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility and permanently banned from flying with any member airline of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) after a violent altercation aboard flight Q9 303 from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.
The incident, described by industry officials as one of the most severe cases of unruly passenger behaviour in recent years, began shortly before take-off at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo. According to Ibom Air, Ms. Emmanson was instructed to switch off her mobile phone in line with aviation safety procedures but refused until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement. A fellow passenger seated beside her eventually switched off the phone, prompting an angry outburst. The situation was calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.
Upon arrival at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited for other passengers to disembark before confronting the Purser who had earlier given the safety instruction. The airline said she stepped on the crew member, tore off her wig, removed her glasses, threw them to the floor, and repeatedly slapped her. She also allegedly struck another cabin crew member who tried to intervene, and then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.
The Pilot-in-Command alerted airport security, but before help arrived, the Purser prevented Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, as seen in a viral video. When Ibom Air security personnel and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officers arrived, she allegedly attacked them as well, slapping both Ibom Air and FAAN staff, including the airline’s ground supervisor.
She was eventually restrained, taken into custody by FAAN security, and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. On Monday, Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, confirmed via X that Ms. Emmanson had been charged to court and was “cooling off” in Kirikiri Prison, warning that the case should serve as a cautionary example to air travellers.
In a separate statement, AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo announced that the operators had imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on Ms. Emmanson following a review of Ibom Air’s detailed report. He said the incident was a “sustained, violent attack” that endangered the lives of crew and passengers and threatened the safety of the aircraft.
“This behaviour is unacceptable. Effective immediately, Ms. Emmanson is barred from flying with any AON member airline, domestically or internationally, for life,” Okonkwo declared.
He noted that the incident was part of a troubling pattern of unruly passenger behaviour, referencing the recent case involving Nigerian musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) on a ValueJet flight and a reported confrontation between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace staff. He also called on FAAN to urgently review and strengthen Aviation Security (AVSEC) procedures at all airports across the country.
“The AON stands united with Ibom Air and all our members in maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards unruly airline passengers. Anyone who exhibits such behaviour will suffer similar consequences. While we recognise the rights of passengers to express grievances, such actions must follow due process,” he said.
Ibom Air has also placed its own permanent travel restriction on Ms. Emmanson, barring her from boarding any of its flights in the future.
