The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has slammed an indefinite ban on Miss Comfort Emmanson, also known as Comfort Bob, after she allegedly assaulted both flight crew and ground staff during an Ibom Airline flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.
According to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the incident occurred at about 2:54 p.m. on Ibom Airline Flight Q153 after the passenger refused to switch off her phone during takeoff, in violation of International Civil Aviation Regulations.
In a statement on his official X account on Monday, Keyamo disclosed that while the filming of her behaviour was necessary for prosecution, the public release of the indecent content was deplorable.
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“Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her,” Keyamo said.
“That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.”
The minister also ordered airlines to train and retrain their staff in public relations and handling of volatile situations, adding that a joint security meeting between relevant agencies would be held next week for better coordination of aviation security.
“Consequently, in the last few hours, I have been speaking with the Commissioner of Police of the Airport Police Command, the DG of the NCAA and his team, the MD of FAAN and her team, the COO of Ibom Air and his team about the incident,” he stated.
She was arraigned on Monday before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, where she was remanded at Kirikiri Prison for failing to provide sureties.
Keyamo urged passengers with grievances to use the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Directorate rather than resort to disruptive behaviour, warning that erring passengers would face flight bans and possible criminal prosecution.
“We will continue to apply equal sanctions available to us in Aviation on any such erring passengers, that is lengthy flight bans and report the matters to other law enforcement agencies to do their bit within their powers,” he added.
