Nigerian domestic airline, Ibom Air, has imposed a lifetime travel ban on a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, following a violent altercation with its flight crew and airport security personnel during and after a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday.
The airline confirmed in a statement on Monday that Ms. Emmanson would no longer be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft after the incident, which has drawn wide public attention through viral videos circulating on social media.
The trouble reportedly began shortly before take-off in Uyo when the flight crew instructed Ms. Emmanson to switch off her mobile phone. According to Ibom Air, she refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which another passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off. The action allegedly triggered a verbal outburst from Ms. Emmanson, though the situation was calmed and the flight proceeded as scheduled.
However, upon arrival at Lagos airport, the incident escalated. The airline reported that Ms. Emmanson waited for other passengers to disembark before confronting the Purser who had issued the instruction earlier. She allegedly stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her. She then slapped her multiple times, and when another cabin crew member intervened, she also slapped her.
In what the airline described as a dangerous escalation, Ms. Emmanson reportedly attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon an act that could have caused damage to the aircraft. Even after Ibom Air security personnel boarded the aircraft, she allegedly attacked them as well as Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security staff. The airline said she had to be physically restrained and removed from the aircraft by force, but continued to assault officials on the tarmac, including slapping the ground supervisor.
Ibom Air stated that she was eventually taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. The airline has since submitted a full incident report to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The confrontation comes just days after the NCAA handed a six-month flight ban to Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as K1 De Ultimate, over alleged unruly behaviour at the Abuja airport last Tuesday.
