Pat Stevens/
Passengers on a recent Ibom Air flight have confirmed that a cabin crew member was rude to Ms. Comfort Emmanson, escalating tensions that ultimately led to an onboard confrontation.
David Ogebe, a lawyer seated in the same row as Ms. Emmanson, recounted to Channels TV that the hostess snapped at her when she requested help to switch off her phone, saying, “I don’t have time for your nonsense, just switch it off.”
The situation intensified when Ms. Emmanson expressed displeasure at the way she was being addressed. Ogebe said the hostess warned her, “You better keep quiet now. If you say another word, I will deal with you,” prompting Ms. Emmanson to flare up and curse.
Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) affirmed Ogebe’s account in a post on X, noting that all passengers who contacted him corroborated the claim of rudeness.
He explained that while the passenger’s reaction—slapping and attempting to damage the aircraft—was unacceptable, the cabin crew member’s behavioir would be investigated and could attract penalties.
Achimugu emphasised that aviation security protocols and professional standards must guide responses in such situations.
He further highlighted the broader lessons from the incident, saying that globally, mediation is a key element of conflict resolution. “All parties have learned lessons. I am certain that K-1 will never repeat his actions in the Valuejet saga. The unruly Ibom Air passenger will think twice before losing control to the extent that she did. The cabin crew would face ramifications for her actions. However, it does not absolve the passenger of unruly behaviour because, anywhere on earth, THE RESPONSE TO RUDENESS IS NOT TO SLAP PEOPLE AND ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE AN AIRCRAFT.”
Achimugu encouraged reporting complaints about cabin crew to the NCAA to ensure accountability.
He added that both the pilot and crew are expected to adhere strictly to training and standard protocols.
Praising the aviation minister for facilitating mediation, he said the intervention allowed all parties to focus on lessons learned rather than trading blame.
He concluded by noting that aviation authorities, including the NCAA, are reviewing the conduct of everyone involved, ensuring that professional standards, passenger safety, and regulatory protocols are upheld in future operations.
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