The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has stepped into the storm surrounding the dramatic Ibom Air incident that left many Nigerians shocked after a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, was allegedly brutalised and stripped at the Lagos airport.
On Wednesday, NCAA officials grilled members of the Ibom Air crew, including air hostess Julie Edwards, over their role in the heated clash. By Thursday, Emmanson herself was also interrogated in Abuja, this time appearing alongside her lawyer.
According to Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, several key directorates — Aviation Security, Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Legal, and Consumer Protection — are working hand-in-hand to ensure that investigations reach a fair and credible conclusion.
The drama, which unfolded on August 10 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, had already set social media ablaze. Viral videos showed Emmanson confronting airport officials and resisting forceful escort after what started as a mid-air argument. Ibom Air claimed she refused to switch off her phone during takeoff, while her legal team insists she was unfairly humiliated and assaulted.
Civil society groups, women’s rights activists, and legal practitioners have since joined the conversation, demanding an independent probe. While the airline continues to defend its crew, Emmanson’s lawyers have vowed to seek both civil and criminal redress, describing the treatment of their client as degrading and unlawful.
Interestingly, NCAA also took testimony from an eyewitness seated beside Emmanson during the flight. His account, officials say, opened new perspectives about how the situation was handled both onboard and after landing — raising fresh questions about whether this matter was escalated beyond reason.
For now, the nation watches closely as NCAA digs deeper. Was this a case of passenger misconduct, or an abuse of power by airline staff and airport security? The final verdict could reshape the way Nigerian airlines handle conflicts in the skies.
