Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo has directed Ibom Air to withdraw criminal charges against passenger Comfort Emmanson, who became notorious for assaulting flight attendants in a viral incident that shocked the aviation industry.
The directive comes after Keyamo consulted with key stakeholders in the aviation sector regarding recent unruly passenger incidents at Nigerian airports.
Emmanson gained widespread attention through viral social media videos showing her attacking flight attendants and confronting airport security officials during a flight incident on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The altercation began when she refused to comply with standard safety procedures requiring passengers to switch off mobile phones before takeoff from Uyo.
According to Ibom Air’s account, Emmanson physically assaulted the flight purser upon arrival in Lagos and refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily. Airport security and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria officials had to forcibly remove her from the tarmac, during which struggle her clothing was torn, exposing her before she was arrested and handed over to police.
Following the incident, both Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) imposed a lifetime flying ban on Emmanson, while she was subsequently remanded in Kirikiri Prison.
However, Minister Keyamo announced Wednesday that his review of the situation revealed “clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved,” suggesting shared responsibility for the escalation.
In his statement, Keyamo noted that when police took Emmanson’s statement in the presence of her lawyer, “she exhibited great remorse for her conduct,” which influenced his decision to intervene.
The minister confirmed that following the withdrawal of complaints by Ibom Air, the Commissioner of Police for Airport Command and police prosecutor will take immediate steps to facilitate Emmanson’s release from Kirikiri Prison within the week.
Additionally, Keyamo revealed that he successfully appealed to the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on Emmanson, to which they agreed. The AON is expected to announce details of this resolution subsequently.
Keyamo emphasized that while the incidents were regrettable, they served valuable educational purposes by highlighting airport security protocols and raising public awareness about appropriate conduct in aviation environments.
“If nothing at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space,” the minister stated.
The intervention represents a significant development in what had become a high-profile case highlighting tensions between passenger rights and aviation security protocols in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
