Ibom Air: NCAA Seeks First-hand Account Of Passenger, Crew Fracas

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on passengers aboard the Ibom Air Uyo-Lagos flight (IAN513) during last Sunday’s altercation between a passenger and crew members to provide firsthand accounts to aid its investigation.

NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu made the call in a post on the Authority’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday.

He urged anyone who witnessed the events leading to the fracas to contact him via direct message or email at [email protected]

“Once verified that you were actually a passenger on that flight, we can discuss and try to understand other perspectives to this issue.

“In the interest of justice and fairness, it is necessary to hear both sides of the story,” he said.

Achimugu stressed that while the unruly behaviour witnessed on the flight would not be excused, the authority was determined to ensure that “every other person who was culpable down the line is held accountable.”

He noted that NCAA officers in Lagos would embark on a fact-finding mission and engage the police and other security personnel in handling the incident.

“One hopes that lessons are learned from all of these events and that necessary adjustments and improvements are implemented by all stakeholders — passengers, airline staff, aviation security, etc.,” he said.

Describing the matter as “a test for the system,” Achimugu stated that such events expose operational gaps despite robust regulations, allowing authorities to “pluck loopholes” and improve safety procedures.

“At the end of it all, the message remains the same — in aviation, it is safety first, safety second, and safety third,” he added.

LEADERSHIP recalls that viral videos on social media showed an enraged passenger, Comfort Emmanson, attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air flight inbound to Lagos from Uyo and confronting airport security officials.

Ibom Air said the incident began shortly before takeoff from Uyo when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures, which required her to switch off her mobile phone.

The airline said her conduct seriously threatened the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.

The domestic carrier has since imposed a travel restriction on her, adding that she will no longer be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft.

Following the development, the passenger was arraigned on Monday and remanded at the Kirikiru Correctional Centre in Lagos.