Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that Comfort Emmanson, the passenger involved in a recent in-flight altercation aboard an Ibom Air aircraft, will be released from Kirikiri Correctional Centre this week.
Keyamo made the announcement on Wednesday via his official X account, formerly Twitter, revealing that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has also agreed to lift the lifetime ban previously placed on her.
He explained that the decision followed the withdrawal of a formal complaint by Ibom Air and subsequent consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector.
According to the minister, Emmanson expressed “great remorse” for her actions during a police interview held in the presence of her lawyer.
“Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week,” Keyamo stated.
He added that he personally appealed to AON leadership to lift the ban, and they agreed.
The AON is expected to issue an official statement providing further details of the resolution.
The incident occurred on August 10 aboard a flight scheduled to depart from Uyo. Video clips circulated on social media showed a visibly agitated female passenger confronting a flight attendant and later clashing with airport security officials.
Ibom Air explained that the confrontation began when Emmanson refused to comply with standard aviation safety regulations requiring passengers to switch off their mobile devices before takeoff.
The airline described the behaviour as “unruly” and said it posed a safety risk.
Following the incident, the airline imposed a permanent travel ban on Emmanson and pressed charges, which led to her remand in Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Keyamo’s intervention marks the end of the high-profile dispute, with both the airline and the aviation ministry emphasizing the importance of passenger safety and mutual respect between crew and travellers.
