Comfort Emmanson, the unruly passenger involved in the violent altercation on the Ibom Air Uyo–Lagos flight on August 10, has been formally charged in court and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Facility, officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident, which quickly gained widespread attention after videos surfaced online, showed Emmanson physically assaulting airline crew members and confronting airport security personnel upon arrival in Lagos. This breach of safety protocols and violent behavior has sparked calls for stricter enforcement of passenger conduct at Nigerian airports.
Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced Emmanson’s court charge and detention via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He emphasized the need for vigilance among the flying public as unruly passenger incidents are reportedly becoming more frequent.
“The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood stated.
According to Ibom Air’s official statement, the altercation began shortly before take-off when Emmanson refused to comply with the mandatory instruction to switch off her mobile phone—a standard aviation safety requirement. A fellow passenger intervened by taking and switching off the phone, triggering an immediate verbal outburst from Emmanson.
Upon landing in Lagos, the situation escalated when Emmanson confronted the Purser, the crew member who had earlier instructed her to turn off her phone. She then proceeded to physically assault the Purser by tearing off her wig, stepping on her, and throwing her glasses to the floor. She also slapped the Purser multiple times and attacked another crew member who tried to intervene.
The passenger’s aggressive behavior didn’t stop there; she attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher from the aircraft, an action that could have severely jeopardized the safety of the flight and all onboard.
Airport security was alerted immediately, and Emmanson was restrained and removed from the aircraft. Despite intervention by security personnel, she continued to resist, assaulting both airport security and police officials before being handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for further investigation.
Ibom Air has imposed a lifetime ban on Comfort Emmanson, barring her from flying on any of the airline’s aircraft in the future. The airline commended the professionalism and bravery of its crew throughout the incident and thanked airport security and law enforcement for their swift actions.
“Ibom Air reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew, or equipment. Such behavior will be met with the strongest possible response, including legal action and permanent restriction from our services,” the airline said in its statement.
This incident comes amid rising concerns about passenger behavior across Nigerian airports, prompting the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to announce plans for increased enforcement actions to curb unruly conduct.
Tunde Moshood’s remarks underscore a growing awareness in the aviation sector that safety depends not only on infrastructure and technology but also on strict adherence to rules and respectful behavior by all passengers.
As Comfort Emmanson faces the legal consequences of her actions, the aviation community and passengers alike are reminded of the critical importance of following safety protocols to ensure a secure and pleasant flying experience for everyone.
The case also highlights the ongoing challenges Nigerian airlines face in managing passenger conduct and maintaining safety standards, signaling that regulatory bodies and airlines will likely ramp up measures to prevent future incidents.