An eyewitness has claimed that airline staff triggered the unruly behaviour of passenger Comfort Emmanson during a July Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, lawyer David Ogede, who sat beside Emmanson, alleged that a confrontation between her and a flight attendant began before the plane landed at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Ogede said the first air hostess politely instructed passengers to switch off their phones before takeoff. Emmanson reportedly explained that her phone’s power button was faulty. However, a second hostess intervened in what Ogede described as a “confrontational manner.”
According to him, the second hostess insisted that Emmanson turn off her device, stating she could do so without a physical button. When Emmanson asked for help, the hostess refused and allegedly told her, “I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
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“The lady then asked if there was a button on her phone and requested the hostess to spell ‘general’ in the settings menu. The exchange became tense, and at some point, the hostess threatened to ‘deal with’ her if she spoke again. That was when Emmanson flared up,” Ogede recalled.
He noted that another passenger eventually assisted with the phone, but the atmosphere remained tense until landing.
Ogede said the situation could have been avoided if handled with tact, particularly by the first hostess, whom he described as “professional and polite.”
“With humility and empathy, things might have gone differently. She felt attacked and singled out. An apology could have calmed her down,” he added.
The incident has sparked public debate over airline customer service and the handling of in-flight disputes.
