The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has invited Comfort Emmanson and an Ibom Air cabin crew member, Juliana Edward, for further investigation into a reported incident on board an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this during a questions and answers session at the Emergency National Civil Aviation Security Committee and Stakeholders Meeting held on Tuesday, August 19, in Abuja
Achimugu confirmed that he had spoken with Emmanson and that both she and the crew member involved had been summoned for further investigation.
“I have spoken with Ms. Emmanson this morning. We are also inviting the Ibom Air cabin crew for continued investigation on the incident. They will be here tomorrow,” he said.
He clarified that the pilot did not call in security personnel upon landing in Lagos, as the issue seemed resolved during the flight.
However, Emmanson, who reportedly visited the restroom after landing, was the last to disembark from the aircraft.
Assuring the public of transparency, Achimugu said the NCAA remains committed to uncovering all the facts surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, Sen. Buhari Abdulfatai, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, attributed rising incidents of misconduct in the aviation sector to a general decline in discipline among passengers, airport staff, and crew.
He stressed the importance of strict adherence to professional standards and commended the NCAA for its enforcement efforts.
He also urged other aviation agencies to support the NCAA in maintaining industry safety and security.
Persecondnews reports that Emmanson, who was on board the Uyo to Lagos flight, had in a viral video repeatedly slapped a purser with Ibom Aircraft after she was allegedly told to switch off her phone before takeoff.
The airline, in a statement issued on Monday, August 11, banned the passenger from flying its aircraft.
Ibom Air said the incident began before take-off from Uyo when Emmanson refused to comply with safety procedures requiring passengers to switch off their mobile phones.
According to the airline, a fellow passenger seated beside her switched off the phone, sparking a verbal tirade.
The carrier said that upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson confronted the purser, who had earlier instructed her to switch off her phone and physically assaulted her.
It also maintained that the passenger attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act they described as “an intention to damage and ground the aircraft”.
Ibom Air added that her behaviour posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.
Following Aviation Minister Keyamo’s intervention, the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court discharged the case after Ibom Air withdrew the criminal complaints against her, and was subsequently released.
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