The Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has condemned the public release of a video showing an incident involving Ms. Comfort Emmanson and ground personnel, describing the action as “totally unacceptable” and a “debasement of womanhood.”
The Minister, in a statement today, confirmed that the scuffle occurred after the passenger refused to cooperate with ground staff and had to be subdued.
While expressing support for recording the altercation as evidence for prosecution, the Minister stressed that sharing footage containing indecent exposure for public ridicule was deplorable adding, “I have directed that whoever released that part of the video among the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.”
The Minister also directed airlines to intensify training and retraining of staff in public relations and conflict management to handle potentially volatile situations professionally.
In addition, a joint security meeting involving relevant agencies will be convened next week to improve coordination of security responses in such incidents.
The statement further urged passengers to seek redress through the established complaint channels provided by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Consumer Protection Directorate rather than resorting to self-help, warning that such actions could lead to dire consequences.
The Minister reaffirmed that erring passengers would face stiff sanctions, including lengthy flight bans, in addition to possible prosecution by other law enforcement agencies.
Giving a background information, the Minister said that on August 10, 2025, Emmanson went berserk and physically assaulted both the flight crew and the ground staff.
The incident occurred on Ibom Airline Flight No. Q153 from Uyo to Lagos at about 2pm.
He said, “Ibom Airline has since issued a statement to provide some context to the effect that the whole unfortunate incident arose because of the refusal of the passenger to switch off her phone during take off as required by extant International Civil Aviation Regulations.
“Consequently, in the last few hours, I have been speaking with the Commissioner of Police of the Airport Police Command, the DG of the NCAA and his team, the MD of FAAN and her team, the COO of Ibom Air and his team about the incident.
“Apart from the indefinite flight ban imposed on the said unruly passenger (both local and international) by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) the Police has promptly arraigned her this morning at the Ikeja Magistrates Court for criminal offences and remanded her at Kirikiri Prisons as she could not provide adequate sureties in court. I have attached the Charge Sheet and Remand Order for clarity.
“We also note the scuffle that took place between the unruly passenger and ground personnel before she was eventually subdued. This was because of her uncooperative attitude. Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is DEPLORABLE is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever RELEASED that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.”
