Photo combo showing NCAA logo and the Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has pledged to ensure fairness in addressing a recent incident involving a passenger and Ibom Air crew, while emphasizing that “self-help” actions by passengers are unacceptable under aviation regulations.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He said: “No matter the provocation, rest assured that you can always file your complaints with the NCAA, and it will be dealt with.
“Self-help is not permissible in aviation anywhere.”
He further assured, “On our part, we will ensure to see the end of it and that there is fairness on every side,” in response to the altercation that occurred on Monday.
The incident involved passenger Comfort Emmanson, whose confrontation with Ibom Air crew on a Uyo-Lagos flight went viral.
According to Ibom Air, Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile device before takeoff, prompting the pilot to intervene. A fellow passenger eventually turned off her phone, sparking her anger.
Upon landing in Lagos, Emmanson allegedly assaulted the purser, with the airline stating, “She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses, threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her.”
Following the incident, Emmanson was banned from flying and charged in court, though Achimugu noted that an amicable resolution remains possible if both parties agree.
He stressed the importance of complying with cabin crew instructions, warning that “unruly behaviours have far-reaching consequences.”
This incident follows closely on the heels of another case, where Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, known as K1 De Ultimate, received a six-month flight ban from the NCAA for similar disruptive behavior at Abuja airport.
