An eyewitness aboard the Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025, has shared a different perspective on the incident involving passenger Comfort Emmanson, who was forcibly removed from the plane after clashing with crew and airport security.
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Tunde A. Ibrahim, who was on board, said the conflict began over the refusal to switch off a phone before takeoff. According to Ibrahim, the crew initially resisted Emmanson’s attempt to leave the plane because of the phone issue. Emmanson reportedly told the crew her phone was already on flight mode. He said this in a now trending image on social media.
After landing, the crew allegedly refused to allow her to disembark, informing passengers they had called airport security to take custody of her. Ibrahim described how Emmanson was pushed back into her seat to allow other passengers to exit the aircraft, contradicting the airline’s claim that she was immediately restrained by security.
Meanwhile, Lawyer commenting on the viral incident said Emmanson has a strong legal case against Ibom Air. A lawyer speaking on social media platform X explained that purchasing a ticket creates a contract guaranteeing safe, dignified, and timely carriage.
The lawyer argued that Emmanson’s forceful removal especially the public exposure of her private parts in widely circulated videos amounts to a breach of contract and a violation of her constitutional right to dignity, as guaranteed under Section 34(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
“The act of stripping a passenger of her dignity through public exposure and humiliation is a constitutional wrong,” the lawyer said, adding that this could result in significant damages awarded by a Federal High Court.
He also highlighted that unauthorized recording and dissemination of such videos violates Nigerian privacy laws, providing further grounds for legal action.
The incident itself was confirmed by government officials and Ibom Air. Comfort Emmanson was charged and remanded in Kirikiri correctional facility following the violent confrontation at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The airline said Emmanson refused repeated requests to switch off her mobile phone before takeoff. After a fellow passenger turned off the phone, Emmanson verbally assaulted the crew and, upon landing, physically attacked cabin staff—stepping on a purser, tearing off her wig, and attempting to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon.
Despite security intervention, Emmanson resisted and assaulted both airline and airport security personnel even after disembarking. Ibom Air has barred her from future flights and reported the case to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which warned of increased enforcement against unruly passengers nationwide.
Mr. Michael Achimugu, Ibom Air’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, urged passengers to comply with safety protocols, emphasizing that “passengers need to understand they have responsibilities, not just rights.”
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