…Aviation Authority addresses Nigerians
CITIZENS COMPASS—Ibom Airlines Limited has distanced itself from the nude video of a female passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted an official of the airline.
The airline said it had nothing to do with the circulation of a viral video showing a female passenger stripped naked while being dragged off one of its aircraft at Lagos Airport.
Its Group Manager for Marketing and Communications, Aniekan Essienette, disclosed this during an interview with TVC News on Monday.
He acknowledged that the footage was filmed onboard the aircraft but was not leaked by his officials.
“The video was recorded on the plane, but there were several people on board who were not Ibom Air employees. Anyone could have taken it,” Essienette said. “I can tell you categorically that Ibom Air did not release the video. We do not condone such indecent exposure, and it is unfortunate that the video has gone viral.”
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 10, after the passenger allegedly refused to completely switch off her electronic device, in violation of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) rules which require gadgets to be powered down during flights.
Essienette said the situation escalated when the passenger resisted disembarking in Lagos, forcing the pilot-in-command to call in security.
“Our crew had to restrain her to ensure security could escort her off the plane,” she explained.
The images and video clips of the confrontation have triggered outrage online, with many Nigerians describing the handling of the passenger as humiliating and degrading.
“Ibom Air values our customers and prides itself on reliability and excellent service. We remain committed to these principles,” Essienette said. “Most people obey the rule to switch off devices. The airline environment is controlled, and safety must come first.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on anyone who was on board Ibom Air flight IAN513 from Uyo to Lagos to come forward with eyewitness accounts of the incident.
NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, in a statement posted on his official X handle, urged passengers who saw what transpired to contact him directly via direct message or email at michael.achimugu@ncaa.gov.ng.
According to him, the aim is to get “other perspectives to this issue” in the interest of justice and fairness. Achimugu noted that witnesses will be verified to confirm they were indeed on the flight before any discussions take place.
From the eye witnesses’ accounts, a co-passenger who gave his name as Tunde Ibrahim, said the female passenger was provoked by the airline’s crew.
In a social media post, he said l, “Do you know I was on board in that flight.
Everything has to do with putting off your phone at the point of landing.
And the lady said her phone was on flight mode and the crew lady became adamant until we finally landed.
After landing, she resisted the lady from coming down saying they have invited the security to pick her up.
Many of us pleaded but the crew members were very adamant and push the lady back while many of us left them arguing
As at the time I get down from the aircraft the lady was calm but the crew member were treating her bad as if something was wrong between them
I wish you all were there to see how they push the lady back on seat as if she a criminal.
If i knew this will happened I would have waited to intervene. I condemned the way and manner the handle the situation”
– Tunde A Ibrahim
In the same vein, a social media user, @ofonlinehonesty, who claimed to be Emmanson’s neighbour called on appropriate authorities to carefully examine the passenger.
The nude video has received criticism from many Nigerians who have criticized the federal government for insincerity in applying the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They criticized the government for allowing a popular singer and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wasiu Ayinde popularly known as KWAM 1 to be working freely while the female passenger was arrested.
Recall that KWAM 1 allegedly obstructed an aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, during a hot argument with the officials of an airline.
