Ibom Air Passenger Arrest Sparks Online Debate Over Crew Con

The uproar over the clash between Ibom Air and a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who was on Monday charged to court and remanded at the Kirikiri correctional facility for allegedly assaulting airline officials, has spilt onto social media, splitting opinion among Nigerians.

While videos circulating online showed Emmanson confronting flight attendants and airport security, another short clip recorded by the passenger herself appeared to capture her telling officials to let her alight, fuelling debates over whether the incident was mishandled.

Ibom Air alleged the confrontation began in Uyo before take-off, when Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone as required by aviation safety rules.

The carrier claimed she later assaulted a purser upon arrival in Lagos, endangering passengers, crew, and the aircraft.

However, online users have questioned the airline’s conduct, accusing its crew of excessive force, with some frowning that her breast was exposed during the scuffle.

Others blamed Emmanson for escalating the situation. While some slammed the aviation authority for being unfair, following a popular Fuji musician’s controversy at the airport last week. From Facebook to Twitter, the exchanges have been heated.

A social media user, Tunde Ibrahim, while expressing his opinion on Facebook, claimed to be on the same flight.

Ibrahim said, ”It was the crew member that resisted the lady from coming down because of put off phone and no put off phone.

“The lady told the crew that her phone was already on flight mode.

“After landing they refused to allow the lady from coming down saying they have called the airport security to pick her up.

“Infact they push the lady back on seat for many of us to pass.”

Mazi Nathan on Twitter with the username #rukky_nate wrote, ”The babe on the Uyo to Lagos flight was an unruly, crazy passenger. And the Ibom Air staff handled the situation in the most unprofessional and degrading manner.

“They tore her shirt and exposed her private parts. She can use this in court, sue for damages and win.”

Rico of Uyo (#King_Rico19) said, ”Comfort Emmanson’s alleged assault on the Ibom Air Hostess may have a different view after watching this clip.

“Before her outburst, what really transpired between her and the Air Hostess? Her bio tells us that she might be a hyperreactive person.”

Prince Unyime Innocent on Facebook asked, ‘Stories, so the flight boarded has the right to naked her?”

Winning Grace (#winninggrace22) commented, ”The air hostess standing on her way out need to be question and face the law also, how can you block the passenger from going out.

“She should be punish and remanded also #fkeyamo there should be equalities in judgement.”

The Truth Speaker (#SpeakerCritical) countered, ”What a nonsense tweet. Do you expect people who show disregard for protocols and regulations to be treated like princesses?

“Knocking the air hostess on the head and abusing them required that she be removed off the plane aggressively. That’s how it works!”

DADDY DABz (#Austeiin) wrote, ”I don’t care what transpired or has transpired between her and the air hostess.

“She has no right to hit the air hostess first multiple times.

“The very moment a customer goes physical during a transaction, that’s the END.”

Chinedu Idigo (𝒞𝒽𝒾 𝒩ℯ 𝒟𝓊 ℐ𝒹𝒾ℊℴ, #eduhandsome_) posted, ”That Air hostess must be insane.

“Looking at this clip it’s obvious their beef started long before she boarded that flight.

“Abi you and her dey drag man aunty? wtf so unprofessional. Even if u wanted to arrest her why not let them do it at luggage point?”

Olaudah Equiano (#RealOlaudah) said, ”If Kwam 1 the Ultimate can do it, I too can.

“This is the danger of not punishing bad behavior.

“A country where the supervisory institutions are weak can only descend to anarchy.”

Amaka Nwadike (#AAdachief) wrote, ”I still don’t understand how a simple ‘turn off your phone’ could cause such a scene we saw on Ibom Air from Uyo to Lagos.

“She didn’t even need to turn it off, just put it on airplane mode for a few minutes. It’s standard takeoff procedure.”

Kelvin Odu’a (#Toluxketv) quipped,”From Uyo to Lagos.

“Next time if you know you are going to the airport or anywhere to make trouble, try dey wear bra.

“Now your breast is on social media because you decided to be stupid. Kwam2!”

On Facebook, Ohioma Imonike said, ”K1 escaped, but K2 couldn’t. A serious warning to K3 as well as all the intending Kssssss.”

Another Facebook user, Deborah Tiyatiye, questioned the circumstances,” Has anyone noticed that there are no passengers in the plane? Why is she the last person to leave the plane?

“Their words against hers, they are all crew members, they will support each other.

“This video doesn’t represent the actual thing that happened. I totally condemn their barbaric approach to eject her off the plane.”

Chinedu Jackson Ughamadu on Facebook added, ”Please let’s try to listen to other sides of the story before judgement.

“She was treated in such manner, maybe, because she’s younger, and that the air staff doesn’t understand phone could be put on airplane mode instead of switching off.”

With the incident still trending, Nigerians remain divided, some seeing Emmanson as an unruly passenger, others as a victim of an airline’s heavy-handed response.