The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has urged passengers aboard the Ibom Air Uyo-Lagos flight (IAN513) involved in last Sunday’s incident to share firsthand accounts to aid its investigation.
In a post via his official X handle on Tuesday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, urged anyone who witnessed the events leading to the fracas to contact him via direct message or email at michael.achimugu@ncaa.gov.ng.
“Once verified that you were actually a passenger on that flight, we can discuss and try to understand other perspectives to this issue.
“In the interest of justice and fairness, it is necessary to hear both sides of the story,” he said.
He emphasized that although the unruly behaviour observed on the flight would not be condoned, the authority was committed to ensuring that “every other person who was culpable down the line is held accountable.”
Achimugu revealed that NCAA officers in Lagos would conduct a fact-finding mission, working with the police and other security agencies involved in managing the incident.
“One hopes that lessons are learned from all of these events and that necessary adjustments and improvements are implemented by all stakeholders, passengers, airline staff, aviation security, etc.,” he said.
Describing the matter as “a test for the system,” Achimugu noted that such events expose operational gaps despite robust regulations, allowing authorities to “pluck loopholes” and improve safety procedures.
“At the end of it all, the message remains the same — in aviation, it is safety first, safety second, and safety third,” he added.
Videos circulating on social media showed a visibly enraged Comfort Emmanson attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air flight inbound to Lagos from Uyo and confronting airport security officials.
According to Ibom Air, the incident occurred 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 stated that her actions posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.
As a result, the domestic carrier imposed a travel ban on her, declaring that she will no longer be permitted to fly on any of its aircraft.
Following the incident, the passenger was arraigned on Monday and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Center in Lagos.
