NCAA calls for eyewitness accounts in Ibom Air incident as NBA condemns lifetime ban

As aviation authorities continue to unravel the circumstances surrounding the evacuation of Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson from the aircraft, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called for eyewitness accounts in Ibom Air flight fracas.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, has called on passengers who witnessed the fracas aboard the Ibom to assist the agencies with information.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, @mikeachimugu01, Achimugu urged verified eyewitnesses to contact him via direct message or email, stressing that gathering multiple perspectives is crucial to ensuring justice and fairness in the probe.

While condemning the unruly behaviour on board, he emphasised that every party involved — passengers, airline staff, and security personnel — must be held accountable where necessary.

He disclosed that NCAA officers in Lagos will meet with police and other security agencies as part of a fact-finding mission.

“This is a test for the system,” Achimugu stated, adding that such incidents highlight operational gaps despite robust regulations.

He called for lessons to be learned and improvements implemented by all stakeholders.

Reiterating NCAA’s core principle, he concluded: “In aviation, it is safety first, safety second, and safety third.”

NBA Condemns Lifetime Ban On Passenger

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson in the incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025 and the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed on her by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

In a statement signed by its president, Afam Osigwe, and secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, the NBA described Ibom Air crew handling of the matter as heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.

The association stated that it is deeply disturbing that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online.

It said such conduct is degrading, violates her right to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector.

The statement added: “While Ibom Air has issued its own account of events, other video footage has emerged showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation.

This makes it all the more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken against her.

The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is equally troubling. Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond.

This one-sided process, culminating in a ban supported by AON, breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible.

The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with the appropriate statutory regulator, not private associations or airline operators acting unilaterally.

The photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson is also an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act. Even if the incident was to be reported, the footage should have been blurred or edited in such a way that it did not expose her nudity to the public.

Those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage must be identified and prosecuted. Such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.

“The NBA demands that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into this incident.

We also call on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry, sanction all those found culpable, and enforce strict compliance with established standards for the humane treatment of air passengers.

“The NBA stands ready to provide Ms. Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered.

“We will not remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon, whether by public authorities, private corporations, or individuals.

“Respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised, and in this matter, justice must prevail.”

NIPR Aviation Hub Moves To Curb Unruly Passenger Behaviour

In a related development, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Aviation Hub has announced plans to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other key stakeholders to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the growing incidents of unruly passenger behaviours in the country’s aviation sector.

This initiative comes in response to rising concerns over disruptive passenger conduct, which has impacted safety, disrupted operations, and tarnished Nigeria’s aviation image.

The body affirmed that the strategy aligns with the Honourable Minister of Aviation’s directive for enhanced staff training and improved public engagement across the industry.

Speaking on the initiative, Basil Agboarumi, fnipr, chairman of the NIPR Aviation Hub, said key components of the proposed strategy include enhanced staff training and capacity building, nationwide training programmes for airline and airport staff on de-escalation, conflict resolution, and customer service excellence, and specialised modules covering cultural sensitivity, stress management, and crisis communication.

It will also include public awareness and passenger education, a nationwide campaign to promote courteous travel behaviours, pre-flight announcements, airport signage, and digital content highlighting penalties for misconduct.

The rest are strengthened enforcement and legal measures, implementation of a national no-fly list for habitual offenders, strict enforcement of NCAA regulations, including fines, flight bans, and prosecution for unruly acts.

Also, the programme will ensure an industry-wide collaboration, the establishment of an Aviation Passenger Conduct Task Force to track trends and recommend policy updates, and regular stakeholder engagements with airlines, security agencies, and the NCAA.

Basil said further that “The safety and comfort of all passengers and crew remain our top priority. Our approach combines proactive education, effective communication, and firm enforcement to foster a culture of respect and compliance in Nigeria’s air travel space.”

The NIPR Aviation Hub commended the NCAA, FAAN, and the Ministry of Aviation for their leadership on this issue and urged swift adoption of the measures.

It called on airlines and the airports authorities to prioritise staff training and adopt standardised response protocols, just as it urged passengers to comply with aviation regulations and report cases of misconduct.

Basil also described the role of the media as indispensable in the crusade to ensure the Nigerian aviation sector is sanitised, adding that media support in public awareness campaigns for safer and more orderly travel is needed most now.