PASSENGER RECOUNTS EVENTS LEADING TO IBOM AIR ALTERCATION
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A fellow passenger on the Ibom Air flight involving Comfort Emmanson, who was arrested and remanded after an in-flight altercation, has given a detailed account of the events that preceded the incident.
In a Facebook post, the eyewitness, who sat across the aisle from Emmanson in the emergency row, said tensions began when a flight attendant politely asked Emmanson to switch off herself mobile phone before take-off. According to the account, Emmanson claimed the power button on her device was faulty, explaining it was an iPhone that “does not need a button” to switch off. She reportedly added that she did not know how to power it down and requested assistance from the crew, saying she was not literate.
The witness alleged that another air hostess “spoke down” to Emmanson and refused to handle her phone, telling her she didn’t have time for “nonsense.” This exchange, the passenger claimed, prompted intervention from nearby travellers, who helped switch off the phone.
The post further stated that the flight attendant then threatened to have Emmanson removed from the aircraft, sparking reactions from other passengers who defended her. Although the situation calmed and the flight proceeded, the witness said Emmanson continued to discuss the matter with a male passenger and later insulted other travellers.
Upon landing, Emmanson reportedly delayed disembarking, heading to the restroom instead. The witness claimed they suspected she “was up to something,” an impression they said was reinforced after seeing the viral video of her confrontation with crew members at the Lagos airport.
Ibom Air has since banned Emmanson from future flights, accusing her of unruly behaviour and assaulting airline staff. The passenger’s account has added another layer to the ongoing public debate over the incident.
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