A passenger on the Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025, has come forward with an eyewitness account of the altercation between Comfort Emmanson and an air hostess.
Ogebe David, who sat across the aisle from Emmanson,
describes the events leading up to the incident and provides insight into the
behaviour of the two hostesses on board.
According to David, the first hostess was kind, polite, and
professional throughout the flight.
However, the second hostess, who approached Emmanson about
switching off her phone, was perceived as condescending and humiliating.
David recounts that the hostess spoke to Emmanson in a high
voice, telling her to switch off her phone, and when Emmanson explained that
the buttons on her phone weren’t working, the hostess responded with a
dismissive tone.
David Ogede, an eyewitness narrates what transpired between Ms Comfort Emmanson and Ibom Air hostesses during flight incident.#CTVMorningBrief pic.twitter.com/SP0kx7hzi6
— Channels Television (@channelstv) August 14, 2025
David also describes how another passenger intervened to
help Emmanson with her phone, and how the situation escalated, with Emmanson
becoming upset and cursing at the hostess.
Despite the tension, the flight took off without further
incident, and David notes that Emmanson was upset and simmering throughout the
flight.
David concludes that the second hostess’s behaviour was
“unnecessarily humiliating” and that Ibom Air needs to do better in training
its staff to handle such situations.
Below is the unedited eyewitness account (except for the
addition of the first name of Emmanson) as extracted on his X handle:
So, I was on the now infamous Ibom Air flight from Uyo to
Lagos on 10 August 2025 at 1:20pm. I sat on seat 14B, the aisle seat on the
left side of the emergency exit row of the Plane. Miss. (Comfort) Emmanson sat
across the aisle immediately to my right on the corresponding emergency exit
row aisle seat (that should be seat 14C or D depending on how the seats were
numbered). Considering it was a small aircraft, it could be said that we sat
about two feet apart, so I was privy, first hand, to all that transpired prior
to take off, and upon landing until I exited the plane before the entire drama
began. I will detail hereunder what transpired, suffice to say, at no time did
Miss. Emmanson refuse to switch off her phone for take off.
It is important to state that prior to meeting Miss.
Emmanson on the aircraft by pure happenstance, I had never met her before. She
is a complete stranger to me. In the same vein I have never met any of the Ibom
Air hostesses before Friday, to the best of my knowledge, and I am only
speaking out now out of a moral duty and civic responsibility to speak the
truth so that everyone, whether highly placed or not, highly connected or not,
can be treated fairly and justly in all circumstances. I must also state
immediately that I do not condone or endorse the acts of violence and
disorderliness exhibited by Miss. Emmanson as seen in various videos
circulating in the media space. It is not justified.
Unjustified Humiliation and Provocation By Ibom Air Hostess
There were only two air hostesses on the plane which I
presume to be as a result of the size of the plane. One of the hostesses
approached us and gave us the regular briefing for passengers sitting on the emergency
exit. This hostess was exceptionally kind, polite and amiable. I will refer to
her henceforth as hostess 1. After the briefing she asked Miss. Emmanson
politely twice to switch off her phone. I noticed thereafter that Miss.
Emmanson was fiddling with her phone with some uncertainty.
After hostess 1 left to continue her duties, hostess 2 came
with an almighty huff and told Miss. Emmanson to switch off her phone with a
very high voice. Miss. Emmanson in a low voice tried to explain to hostess 2
that the buttons on her phone for switch off were not working so she did not
know how to switch off the phone. Hostess 2 rebuffed her and kept insisting
that she switches off the phone. Hostess 2 then told her that the phone she was
holding was an iPhone which did not require buttons to switch off. The lady now
asked the hostess to assist her switch off the phone and hostess 2 replied “I
am not touching your phone”.
Hostess 2 now told her to go to settings and from there
click on general. The lady now responded in an even lower voice saying “please
I cannot read and don’t know what you said I should do. Can you just help me?”
Hostess 2 now retorted “Please I don’t have time for your nonsense. Better
switch off that phone immediately”.
The gentleman sitting to my left in seat 14A and I were
flabbergasted when we heard this and could not believe that an air hostess
could speak so condescendingly and unnecessarily humiliate a passenger, perhaps
because she was a single female. We then intervened and asked the gentleman
sitting next to the lady by the window of her row to assist her. He collected
the phone and was assisting her. Miss. Emmanson then started asking hostess 2
if there was anything wrong with being unable to read and why she had to
humiliate her like that to the whole public. Hostess 2 now told Miss. Emmanson
to keep quiet or else she would deal with her. At this point Miss. Emmanson
started cursing and told her she could do nothing to her. Hostess 2 then said
“ok, you will see” then she left in a puff and proceeded to the cockpit and
never came back.
Some passengers sitting afar who did not know what truly
transpired were shouting for Miss. Emmanson to switch off her phone. However,
the passenger in seat 14A and I rose up stoutly and defended her and when they
heard our explanations they all calmed down and the flight took off.
Throughout the flight Miss. Emmason was upset and simmering.
She kept on discussing the situation with the gentleman on her right till the
plane landed. She was obviously quite annoyed. I also noticed that Hostess 2
kept peeping at our row throughout the flight. She stayed upfront in the plane
most of the time if I recollect correctly.
Hostess 1 on the other hand was completely oblivious of the
raging storm (at least I thought so) and was kind, polite and professional
throughout. Hostess 1 gave extra water to Miss. Emmanson when she asked for it
in-flight and also helped her with bringing out and returning her food tray
when snacks were served and also as we were approaching landing. Hostess 1 also
helped put away some of Miss. Emmanson’s things in the cabin above before
landing.
Disembarkation
Once the plane landed, the gentleman in seat 14A and I joked
that we had better get out quickly before a war breaks out. We both expressed
hope that nothing happened as we disembarked. Disembarkation was being done row
by row and just before it got to our turn, Miss. Emmanson exited her seat to
the back of the plane and I presumed she went to the toilet. We happily
disembarked and I forgot all about the spat in the plane until I started seeing
all the videos and statements flying unabatedly. I hope the other gentlemen who
witnessed this unfortunate incident on row 14 along with me will speak up and
corroborate all I have said, which is the truth. I am ready to stand by all I
have said here and will be glad to stand as a witness if need be for Miss.
Emmanson.
Conclusion
Miss. Emmanson never at any time refused to switch off her
phone for take-off. Hostess 2 acted very poorly and inflamed a rather simple
and small matter. And this is putting it mildly. Hostess 1 was exceptional and
if she were the one that handled the entire episode, this would not have
happened.
Ibom Air needs to do better in training their staff to learn
to be sensitive and empathetic where necessary.
Miss. Emmanson’s reactions, though founded on grave
unwarranted humiliation and provocation, have no place in any sane society and
should not be encouraged.
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The lady should take up the case , this is not motor pack, they just came together to disgrace her. but Mr. David you didnt do well by exiting without helping the lady since you knew there might be problem. but we still thank you for the truth god bless you
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