By Muhammad Mamman
Nigerian airline Ibom Air has imposed a lifetime ban on Comfort Emmanson for viciously attacking crew members on a Uyo-Lagos flight at Lagos airport on Sunday. This incident follows hot on the heels of another high-profile case involving Fuji star K1 De Ultimate, who was banned for six months by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for similar unruly behaviour at Abuja airport last week.
Ibom Air, in a strongly worded statement released Monday, confirmed that Emmanson is barred from all its flights indefinitely. The airline detailed a disturbing sequence of events, revealing that Emmanson’s aggressive outburst began after she refused to switch off her mobile phone before take-off from Uyo. Despite the pilot’s intervention and a fellow passenger’s assistance in deactivating the device, Emmanson unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse.
The situation spiralled upon landing in Lagos. After other passengers disembarked, Emmanson allegedly targeted the purser who had instructed her earlier. In a shocking display, she stomped on the crew member, ripped off her wig, smashed her glasses, and assaulted her with footwear. When another cabin crew intervened, Emmanson slapped her too and even attempted to wield a fire extinguisher as a weapon—an act that could have grounded the aircraft.
Ibom Air security personnel, supported by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), intervened, but Emmanson continued her rampage, attacking both airline and FAAN staff, including a ground supervisor. She was eventually restrained, removed from the aircraft, and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation.
Viral footage circulating online captured Emmanson’s violent outburst, sparking widespread condemnation. Ibom Air has reported the incident to the NCAA, underscoring its commitment to crew safety and passenger compliance.
