Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has warned that unruly behaviour onboard Nigerian flights will no longer be tolerated, following the violent incident involving a female passenger on Ibom Air.
The passenger, identified as Ms. Comfort Emmanson, also known as Comfort Bob, was captured in viral videos physically assaulting flight crew and ground staff on Flight Q153 from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.
According to Ibom Air, the confrontation began when she refused to switch off her phone during take-off, in violation of international aviation safety regulations.
Mr. Keyamo disclosed that he had spoken with top aviation and security officials within hours of the incident.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed an indefinite flight ban on Emmanson, covering both domestic and international travel, while the Police arraigned her at the Ikeja Magistrates Court on criminal charges. She has been remanded at Kirikiri Prison after failing to meet bail conditions.
The minister condemned the release of a video from the incident that contained indecent exposure, describing it as “totally unacceptable” and a debasement of womanhood.
He directed that any staff member responsible for leaking the footage be identified and sanctioned.
The minister also instructed airlines to intensify staff training in public relations and conflict de-escalation, and announced that a joint security meeting between aviation agencies would be held next week to strengthen coordination in handling in-flight or airport security breaches.
Reiterating that there are established channels for passengers to lodge complaints, Mr. Keyamo warned that those who take the law into their own hands will face severe consequences, including lengthy flight bans and possible prosecution.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen