A Civil Society Organisation, The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development, has called for a thorough investigation into Ibom Air and regulatory authorities’ treatment of Comfort Emmanson.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Office, Omoniyi Akingunola, the organisation also offered to provide free legal services to Emmanson, describing her treatment as “unfair, unjust, and unacceptable”.
Videos circulating on social media showed an enraged Emmanson attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air flight inbound to Lagos from Uyo and confronting airport security officials.
Ibom Air said the incident began shortly before take-off from Uyo when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring her to switch off her mobile phone.
The airline company said her conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.
The domestic carrier has since imposed a travel restriction on her, adding that she will no longer be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft.
The group criticised the Airline Operators of Nigeria for imposing a lifetime ban on Emmanson without a proper hearing or an investigation.
Akingunola also faulted the police for rushing to court without conducting adequate fact-finding after the incident.
He said publicly available footage of the incident is incomplete, noting that the altercation began onboard the aircraft.
The NEFGAD’s chief insisted that Ibom Air must release the in-flight video footage to clarify whether Emmanson’s actions were provoked.
“It is wrong to judge the incident based solely on the clip recorded outside the aircraft. It appears something happened inside the plane, and the lady reacted after she was prevented from disembarking, an apparent orchestrated provocation to ensure she was penalised for whatever had transpired in-flight,” the statement reads.
He questioned how anyone forcibly dragged down a plane could be expected to behave civilly and why a passenger ready to disembark suddenly refused to leave moments later.
Akingunola suggested the situation was deliberately escalated to fit a certain narrative, adding that cabin crew should not act as law enforcement officers, especially when their actions resulted in physical assault.
