Comfort Emmanson, the air passenger at the center of a highly publicized incident aboard an Ibom Air flight, has shared a detailed account of the events that led to her arrest, court arraignment, and eventual discharge by a Lagos court.
In an emotional video posted to her Instagram page on Sunday, Emmanson expressed gratitude to those who supported her during what she described as a “traumatic” and deeply humiliating ordeal.
Recounting the incident
The real estate consultant said the events unfolded on August 10, 2025, when she boarded a flight from Uyo to Lagos. According to her, the situation escalated from a disagreement with a flight attendant over her phone.
Emmanson alleged that a crew member, identified as Juliana, insisted that both of her phones be switched off rather than placed in flight mode. She explained that one of the devices had a faulty power button.
“I showed her the phone and told her the power button wasn’t working,” Emmanson recalled. “She said I could still switch it off through settings. With the help of a fellow passenger, I eventually managed to switch off both phones.”
She said the situation worsened after landing in Lagos, when she briefly left her seat to use the restroom. Upon returning, she found the aircraft nearly empty and rushed to disembark, only to be stopped by the same flight attendant.
“She didn’t say anything, just stared at me in a hostile way,” Emmanson claimed. “I picked up my phone and started recording. That’s when she pushed me back into the aircraft, dragged my wig, tore my clothes, and broke my necklace. The pain was unbearable.”
The altercation, which was captured on video, shows Emmanson being forcibly removed from the aircraft with torn clothing. She said she felt exposed and humiliated, especially as bystanders recorded her partial nudity.
“My body was out there,” she said. “I was trying to cover myself. There were cameras everywhere. I didn’t expect that, to be stripped and filmed like that. It was deeply traumatizing.”
Emmanson stated that the physical and emotional toll has been immense.
“They tore my clothes, exposed my body, and people were recording it,” she said. “Now those videos are everywhere. Some even turned them into stickers. I feel so violated, I can’t even walk freely anymore.”
She maintained that her reaction was one of pain, not provocation.
“God knows I would never disrespect a woman old enough to be my mother. But after being assaulted and publicly humiliated like that, I reacted in pain.”
Following the release of her 11-minute video, Emmanson addressed circulating narratives in a follow-up Instagram Story, particularly those suggesting the incident was politically motivated.
“There are so many false stories out there, even from respected individuals, claiming this is political. That’s not true,” she wrote. “I’ve been slandered, humiliated, and victimised. I only seek to reclaim my dignity as a woman.”
Emmanson added that she had previously flown with Ibom Air without issues, and that what transpired after being dragged off the aircraft stemmed purely from distress.
“My swimsuit was clipped below my privates and torn,” she explained. “Imagine that pain. I’m not a crazy or wayward person. I’ve never been in a situation like this—and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
She concluded with a public apology for her behavior during the altercation, attributing it to trauma and emotional distress.
