An eyewitness has come forward with an account of events aboard Ibom Air Flight QI 513 from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday, August 10, 2025, alleging that a passenger identified as Miss Comfort Emmanson was subjected to humiliation by one of the airline’s cabin crew before take-off.
The witness, who occupied seat 14B, stated that the incident occurred on a small aircraft during the pre-flight safety procedures.
According to the account, two hostesses were on board, and the first reportedly delivered the emergency exit briefing politely and twice requested Miss Emmanson to switch off her phone.
The situation allegedly escalated when the second hostess approached and, in a raised voice, insisted the passenger turn off her device.
The eyewitness claimed Miss Emmanson explained that the phone’s power buttons were faulty and requested assistance.
The hostess, according to the witness, refused to handle the phone and instructed the passenger to switch it off via the settings menu.
When Miss Emmanson indicated she could not read and sought help again, the hostess allegedly dismissed her request, stating, “I don’t have time for your nonsense. Better switch off that phone immediately.”
The witness recounted that another passenger intervened to assist Miss Emmanson. The situation further deteriorated when Miss Emmanson questioned why she was being humiliated for her inability to read.
The hostess allegedly told her to keep quiet or risk being “dealt with.” The exchange led to verbal altercations before the hostess reportedly left for the cockpit and did not return.
The eyewitness emphasised that they had no prior relationship with Miss Emmanson or the crew, adding that their statement was motivated by “a moral duty and civic responsibility to speak the truth.”
They condemned the acts of violence and disorderliness later displayed by Miss Emmanson in videos circulating online but maintained that the initial handling of the situation was inappropriate.
As of press time, Ibom Air has not issued an official statement regarding the allegations. The incident has sparked discussions on social media, with many users calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
