Ibom Air has permanently banned a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, after a violent incident on its Uyo–Lagos service on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The airline said her conduct “posed a serious threat to the safety of our crew, passengers, and aircraft.”

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According to the airline’s statement, trouble began before take-off in Uyo when Ms. Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone as instructed by cabin crew, only complying after the Pilot-in-Command intervened. A fellow passenger seated beside her switched off the device, triggering a heated verbal exchange from Ms. Emmanson. The situation cooled temporarily, allowing the flight to depart on schedule.

However, on arrival in Lagos, the passenger allegedly waited for others to disembark before confronting the Purser who had instructed her earlier. “She stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw it to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her,” Ibom Air said. The passenger reportedly slapped the Purser several times, attacked another crew member, and attempted to remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon.

The Pilot-in-Command alerted security, and the Purser was seen in a now-viral video preventing the passenger from leaving the aircraft. Even after airport security arrived, Ms. Emmanson allegedly lashed out at both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff, and later slapped the ground supervisor. She was restrained, removed from the aircraft, and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force.

Ibom Air has reported the matter to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, reiterating its “zero-tolerance policy” for unruly or violent conduct. The airline praised its crew’s “bravery and professionalism” and urged passengers to comply with safety instructions at all times.