Ibom Air Denies Leaking Viral Video of Passenger’s Indecent Exposure

Ibom Air has denied claims that its staff leaked a viral video showing a female passenger in a state of indecent exposure during a heated in-flight altercation.

The airline’s Group Manager for Marketing and Communications, Aniekan Essienette, addressed the matter during an interview with TVC News on Monday, August 11, 2025.

She acknowledged that the controversial incident occurred onboard one of Ibom Air’s aircraft but firmly maintained that no staff member released the footage to the public.

Her comments followed a directive from the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, who ordered sanctions against any airline employee found guilty of leaking the video.

Keyamo condemned the circulation of the footage, stating that while recording incidents for legal evidence is acceptable, sharing images containing indecent exposure is “totally unacceptable.”

Explaining further, Essienette said several individuals, including passengers and non-Ibom Air personnel, were present when the incident occurred, meaning anyone could have recorded and released the video.

“As much as the video was taken onboard, we had several people who were not Ibom Air employees around the vicinity. So anyone could have taken it,” she said.

“I can tell you categorically that the video was not released by us. We do not condone such indecent exposure, and we would never be the ones to make it public.”

She clarified that the passenger involved had been ordered to leave the aircraft but resisted, forcing the crew to intervene.

“She had tried to disembark earlier but was restrained because of certain events that had happened behind the scenes. Eventually, the pilot in command had to call security,” Essienette explained.

According to her, the airline’s primary concern was ensuring safety and compliance, not humiliation.

“No airline sets out to humiliate a passenger. Our crew’s intervention was necessary to maintain order,” she added.

The incident has since sparked discussions about passenger behaviour, airline safety protocols, and the ethical responsibilities surrounding the recording and sharing of sensitive situations.

Essienette urged relevant authorities to focus on preventing similar situations in the future.

“We must work together airlines, regulators, and passengers to make sure this kind of unfortunate incident does not repeat itself,” she said.

The controversy has also raised fresh questions about how Nigeria’s aviation industry handles disruptive passengers and protects their privacy, even in moments of conflict.

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