Ibom Air speaks on assault of Uyo–Lagos flight crew by unruly passenger

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

A Nigerian domestic carrier Ibom Air has explained how a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, assaulted members of the crew on its Uyo–Lagos flight at the Lagos airport on Sunday.

The airline said this while announcing that it has placed a travel restriction on Comfort Emmanson over the assault on the crew members in a statement on Monday.

According to the airline, Emmanson will not be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft from now on.

Viral videos had the passenger slapping on one of the airline’s flight attendant, as security officials tried to restrain her in the incident now trending on the social media as Kwam 2.

Explaining what led to the fracas, The airline said shortly before take-off from Uyo, Emmanson was instructed to switch off her mobile phone.

Ibom Air said, “She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.

“This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon arrival in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the Purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw it to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her.

“She slapped her several times and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.

“The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel, did not deter the passenger as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at both Ibom Air and FAAN security. She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, she continued to assault both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff, and even slapped the ground supervisor.

“Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.”

The Kwam 2 was a reference to incident invloving populuar Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, who was banned by the NCAA for six months following his attempt to stop a Valuejet plan from taking off at the Abuja airport last Tuesday.

This was after the the airport staff stopped him from taking a container containing liquid on board the aircraft.