A new eyewitness account has emerged regarding the controversial Ibom Air flight altercation involving passenger Comfort Emmanson, providing fresh perspective on the incident that has dominated national discourse for days.
The account comes from Benny Umoten, who claims to have been aboard the same flight and witnessed the entire incident unfold firsthand. His detailed Facebook post challenges some aspects of the official narrative while corroborating others, adding complexity to an already controversial situation.
According to Umoten's testimony, the conflict originated from a seemingly minor dispute about phone usage, with Emmanson insisting her device was properly set to flight mode while cabin crew remained unconvinced. What began as a routine safety protocol discussion allegedly escalated dramatically after landing, when crew members reportedly blocked Emmanson from disembarking while waiting for security personnel.
"The crew's handling of the situation was completely disproportionate," Umoten wrote. "They manhandled her as if she were some dangerous criminal, pushing her back into her seat repeatedly despite her being calm at that point. There was clearly personal animosity influencing their actions."
His account paints a picture of fellow passengers becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the crew's conduct, with several allegedly pleading for more professional treatment of Emmanson to no avail. The post particularly criticizes what Umoten describes as the "unnecessary roughness" and "deliberate humiliation" displayed by certain crew members.
This latest testimony adds fuel to growing public skepticism about the airline's version of events, especially following earlier accounts from other passengers suggesting possible provocation from crew members. Aviation experts note that while airlines have every right to enforce safety protocols, professional standards demand such situations be handled with measured responses appropriate to the actual threat level.
The emergence of multiple passenger accounts contradicting aspects of Ibom Air's official statement has led to calls for an independent investigation into both the initial altercation and the airline's subsequent disciplinary actions against Emmanson, including the controversial lifetime flight ban that has drawn condemnation from civil rights groups and public figures alike.