The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has assured the public that it will handle the recent Ibom Air incident with fairness, while warning that unruly conduct on flights will not be tolerated.
Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, emphasized that passengers should always channel their grievances through official complaint procedures rather than taking matters into their own hands.
“No matter the provocation, you can file your complaints with the NCAA and they will be addressed. Self-help is not acceptable in aviation anywhere,” he said.
His comments came a day after videos went viral showing a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, in a physical altercation with a crew member on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
According to the airline, Emmanson ignored repeated requests to switch off her phone before takeoff. It was only after the Pilot-in-Command addressed the issue that another passenger beside her turned off the device. This reportedly sparked a verbal outburst which escalated after landing in Lagos.
Upon arrival, Emmanson allegedly approached the Purser who had given her the initial instruction, stepped on her, pulled off her wig, removed her glasses, threw them to the floor, and struck her with her footwear.
Ibom Air has since placed her on a lifetime no-fly list, and she has been charged to court — a move Achimugu clarified is lawful. He added that both parties could still choose to resolve the matter amicably.
The NCAA official also reminded travelers that disregarding crew instructions can have serious consequences, urging all passengers to remain respectful and compliant during flights.
This incident follows another high-profile case just days earlier, when Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, known as K1 De Ultimate, was issued a six-month flight ban over misconduct at Abuja airport.
