A lawyer who sat beside Comfort Emmanson on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos has alleged that the confrontation involving the passenger was triggered by the conduct and attitude of one of the airline’s crew members.
David Ogede, who witnessed the July incident firsthand, said that while one air hostess conducted herself with courtesy and professionalism, another engaged with Emmanson in a manner that appeared unnecessarily confrontational, both before takeoff and during the flight.
According to Ogede, the first air hostess politely instructed passengers to completely switch off their phones — not simply place them on airplane mode — until after takeoff. When Emmanson explained that the power button on her phone was faulty, a second hostess stepped in and insisted she switch it off regardless.
Ogede recounted that the exchange quickly grew tense:
> “From her posture, it seemed she came looking for trouble. Emmanson kept explaining that her phone’s power button wasn’t working. The second hostess told her that, since she had an iPhone, she didn’t need the button to switch it off. When Emmanson asked for assistance, the hostess refused, telling her to go into ‘Settings’ and then ‘General.’ When Emmanson said she couldn’t follow or read the instructions, the hostess snapped, saying, ‘I don’t have time for your nonsense.’”
At that point, Ogede and another passenger stepped in, urging the hostess not to address Emmanson in such a manner. Another traveller eventually helped with the phone, but by then the atmosphere had already soured.
The situation escalated further when Emmanson asked why she was being embarrassed, prompting the hostess to threaten her: “You had better keep quiet now. If you say another word, I will deal with you.” This caused Emmanson to react angrily, using strong language. The hostess then walked away and did not return.
Ogede said the tension lingered until the plane landed, with nearby passengers sensing the possibility of further conflict. He noted that the first air hostess remained calm and professional throughout, even assisting in storing Emmanson’s purse before landing.
Reflecting on the episode, Ogede stressed that the matter could have been resolved easily:
> “With a little humility and human touch, things could have been different. She felt singled out and attacked. If the polite first hostess had handled the phone issue from the start, it would never have escalated.”
