Keyamo has condemned the release of the indecent footage of the unruly Ibom Air passenger and has ordered staff sanctions.
Glamtush reports that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the release of a video showing the indecent exposure of an unruly passenger during an Ibom Airline incident, describing it as “totally unacceptable” and ordering sanctions against the staff responsible.
The passenger, identified as Miss Comfort Emmanson, also known as Comfort Bob, allegedly assaulted both flight crew and ground staff during an Ibom Airline flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10.
In a statement on his official X account on Monday, Keyamo said while the filming of her behaviour was necessary for prosecution, the public release of the indecent content was deplorable.
Keyamo said, “Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her.
“That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood.
“I have therefore directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.”
The minister also directed airlines to train and retrain their staff in public relations and handling of volatile situations, adding that a joint security meeting between relevant agencies would be held next week for better coordination of aviation security.
He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:54 p.m. on Ibom Airline Flight Q153 from Uyo to Lagos after the passenger refused to switch off her phone during takeoff, in violation of International Civil Aviation Regulations.
According to him, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has imposed an indefinite ban on the passenger, covering both local and international flights.
“Consequently, in the last few hours, I have been speaking with the Commissioner of Police of the Airport Police Command, the DG of the NCAA and his team, the MD of FAAN and her team, the COO of Ibom Air and his team about the incident,” he said.
She was arraigned on Monday before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, where she was remanded at Kirikiri Prison for failing to provide sureties.
Keyamo urged passengers with grievances to use the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Directorate rather than resort to disruptive behaviour, warning that erring passengers would face flight bans and possible criminal prosecution.
“We will continue to apply equal sanctions available to us in aviation on any such erring passengers, that is lengthy flight bans and report the matters to other law enforcement agencies to do their bit within their powers,” the statement concluded.
