A dramatic incident on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos has escalated into a legal battle and lifetime travel ban, after 26-year-old passenger Comfort Emmanson, also known as Comfort Bob, allegedly assaulted crew members, damaged airline property worth thousands of dollars, and disrupted flight operations.
The confrontation began shortly before take-off on Sunday when Emmanson reportedly refused repeated instructions to switch off her mobile phone, in violation of standard aviation safety procedures. Ibom Air said she complied only after the Pilot-in-Command made a public announcement and a fellow passenger turned off the device.
According to the airline, upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson waited for other passengers to disembark before confronting the purser who had earlier directed her to switch off the phone. She allegedly stepped on the crew member, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses, threw them to the floor, and assaulted her with a slipper. Another cabin crew member who tried to intervene was also slapped.
The airline further claimed that Emmanson attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher “with the intention to damage and ground the aircraft.” The Airport Police Command alleged she willfully damaged an aircraft divider curtain valued at $2,500 and a braided wig worth N110,000.
Police prosecutors arraigned her at an Ikeja Magistrate Court on five counts bordering on assault, disorderly conduct, and wilful destruction of property — offences that contravene the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye-Law, 2005, and various sections of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
When the charges were read, Emmanson pleaded not guilty. Presiding Magistrate O.O. Salami ordered her remand at Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the next hearing on October 6.
In addition to legal proceedings, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) placed her on its “No Fly” list for life, banning her from all domestic and international flights operated by its members.
“This was not just disruptive; it was a sustained, violent attack that placed the lives of crew, passengers, and the integrity of the aircraft at risk,” said AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo. “Effective immediately, Ms. Emmanson is banned for life from flying with any AON member airline.”
The case has sparked national debate over passenger conduct, airline safety, and the need for stricter enforcement of aviation laws.
