By Seyi Babalola
Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who assaulted airline staff on an Ibom Air trip from Uyo to Lagos, is now facing charges in court.
According to Tunde Moshood, the minister of aviation and aerospace development’s special adviser on media and communications, Emmanson is being held at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.
Moshood remarked in a post on X on Monday, just after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) stated that enforcement action will become more regular at Nigerian airports as rowdy passenger behaviour becomes more common.
“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 said.
Videos circulating on social media showed an enraged Emmanson attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air plane and confronting airport security officials.
Ibom Air said the incident began shortly before take-off from Uyo when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring her to switch off her mobile phone.
The airline said a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off, prompting a verbal tirade from Emmanson.
The aviation company said upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson proceeded to confront the purser who had earlier instructed her to switch off her phone, and physically assaulted her.
Ibom Air said her conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.
The domestic carrier, therefore, imposed a travel restriction on her, adding that she will no longer be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft.
