August 12, (THEWILL) — Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has vowed stiffer sanctions against unruly air travellers, following Sunday’s alleged assault on Ibom Air crew members by a passenger.
In a statement on Monday, Keyamo said the passenger, identified as Comfort Emmanson, attacked crew after refusing to switch off her mobile phone during take-off on Flight Q153 from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025, at about 2:54 p.m.
The minister confirmed that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had imposed an indefinite local and international flight ban on Emmanson.
She was arraigned by the police at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Monday and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre after failing to provide sureties.
Keyamo also condemned the circulation of a viral video showing the passenger’s bare chest while she was being forcibly removed from the aircraft.
He described the release of such sensitive footage as “totally unacceptable” and ordered an investigation to identify and sanction the staff responsible.
While supporting the filming of the altercation for evidential purposes, he stressed that exposing indecent material to the public “debases womanhood” and would not be tolerated.
The minister directed airlines to strengthen staff training in public relations and conflict de-escalation, adding that a joint security meeting involving aviation stakeholders would hold next week to improve coordination in handling such incidents.
He reminded passengers that the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Directorate offers channels for lodging complaints, warning that taking the law into one’s hands would attract “dire consequences.”
The statement read, “Earlier today, we again woke up to viral videos of a female passenger on Ibom Airline who went berserk and physically assaulted both the flight crew and ground staff.
“Whilst we support the filming of her behaviour as evidence, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us.”
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