Samuel Omang
Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been charged to court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.
Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), confirmed the development in a post on X, stating:
“The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on the Uyo–Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri.”
The case comes amid a stern warning from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that passengers engaging in disruptive conduct will face stricter enforcement measures, as such incidents have been on the rise in Nigerian airports.
The altercation, captured in a viral video, showed Emmanson repeatedly slapping the purser on board after she was allegedly instructed to switch off her phone before take-off. According to Ibom Air, the situation began in Uyo when Emmanson refused to comply with safety instructions. A fellow passenger seated beside her reportedly switched off the phone, prompting a verbal outburst.
The airline stated that upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson confronted the purser, physically assaulted her, and attempted to remove a fire extinguisher, allegedly intending to damage the aircraft. The airline described her actions as a serious threat to the safety of passengers, crew, and equipment, and has permanently banned her from flying with them.
This latest incident follows another high-profile disruption involving Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1), who recently attempted to stop a ValueJet aircraft from taking off after being deboarded.