A heated altercation between a passenger and a cabin crew member aboard an Ibom Air flight has gone viral, sparking debates on social media about in-flight conduct and passenger compliance with aviation rules.
The incident, captured in a short video shared online Sunday evening, shows the female passenger engaged in a physical tussle with a female crew member as Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel rush in to intervene. The confrontation reportedly occurred upon arrival from a Uyo–Lagos trip.
While the exact cause of the dispute remained unconfirmed, early speculation suggests it may have been linked to a breach of basic in-flight safety procedures.
Reacting to the viral clip, Michael Achimugu, director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), urged passengers to adhere to safety protocols and instructions from cabin crew.
“When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff/landing, simply comply. I can’t understand why simple routine issues would lead to incidents like this. Passengers need to understand that they have responsibilities, not just rights,” Achimugu said.
He noted that such confrontations not only disrupt flights but also endanger both crew and passengers. “We will address this after more details become clearer by tomorrow,” he added.
The NCAA said it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the altercation and will release its findings in due course.
LEADERSHIP reports that the episode added to a string of recent clashes between airline passengers and staff in Nigeria, raising renewed concerns over flight safety, passengers rights and responsibilities, and aviation personnels rights and duties.
