*Airilne Bans Flier For Life
A FEMALE passenger aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Lagos, Comfort Emmanson, who assaulted airline officials and security personnel on ground upon arrival has reportedly been arraigned in court and remanded in prison.
Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who revealed this on Monday, August 11, said Emmanson has been remanded in the Kirikiri correctional facility.
Moshood disclosed this in a post on X, shortly after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced that enforcement action would soon become more frequent in airports across the country, following increasing unruly conduct by passengers.
Mainwhile, the airlines has imposed a life ban on Emmanson from flying with its airline for allegedly assaulting one of its crew members on the said flight.
Emmanson was seen in a viral video repeatedly slapping a Purser with the airline who reportedly insisted that she switched off her phone, asrequired by aviation rules, before take-off.
In a statement on Monday, Ibom Air said the incident happened on Sunday, August 10, noting: “Shortly before take-off from Uyo, Ms. Emmanson was instructed, in line with standard aviation safety procedures, to switch off her mobile phone.
“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.”
According to the airline, Emmanson attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act it described as “an intention to damage and ground the aircraft,” adding: “By this time, the Pilot-in-Command had alerted airport security.
“Before security could arrive, the Purser, as seen on the viral video on the Internet, prevented the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived.
“The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel did not deter the passenger, as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at the security personnel. She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force.
“Even after disembarking, she continued to assault Ibom Air security personnel and even slapped the ground supervisor.
“The passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.”
Ibom Air said it had submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and confirmed the travel restriction on Emmanson, while commending its crew members and security personnel for handling the situation with decorum.
“Ibom Air reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew or equipment. Such behavior will be met with the strongest possible response, including legal action and permanent restriction from our services.
“We commend the bravery and professionalism of our crew in handling this situation under extremely challenging circumstances, as well as the swift support from airport security and the Nigerian Police,” added.
This came a few days after a similar incident involving popular Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, aka KWAM 1 or K1 and ValueJet Airline, when he allegedly attempted to stop the aircraft from taking off after he was deboarded over his refusal to drop a flask suspected to contain alchohol, but which he insisted contained water, as he suffered contant dehyradation.
He has been placed on a six-month no flight ban and reported to appropriate federal officials for legal advice.
