How Ibom Air Passenger Was ‘Triggered’ — Eyewitness Account of Uyo–Lagos Flight

A passenger on Ibom Air’s July Uyo–Lagos service, lawyer David Ogede, says an onboard confrontation over a mobile phone spiralled after a flight attendant addressed fellow traveller Comfort Emmanson in a combative manner. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Ogede alleged that while one hostess handled pre-flight instructions professionally, a second hostess escalated the situation with curt remarks and threats.

According to Ogede, the cabin crew initially briefed passengers to switch off (not airplane mode) all phones for take-off and indicated they could power them back on after departure. When Emmanson said her phone’s power button was faulty, a second hostess intervened and insisted she shut it down. Emmanson asked for help, saying she didn’t know how to do it without the button.

“The second hostess said, ‘You’re using an iPhone—you don’t need a button,’” Ogede recounted. “The passenger replied that she didn’t know how and asked the hostess to assist. The hostess refused, then began directing her to go through Settings → General.”

Ogede said Emmanson explained she couldn’t follow the steps and asked the hostess to spell ‘General’. At that point, Ogede and another passenger appealed for calm and sought help from a seatmate who was familiar with iPhones.

“While he was trying to sort the phone, the passenger asked, ‘Why are you embarrassing me?’ The hostess replied, ‘You had better keep quiet now. If you say another word, I will deal with you.’ That was when the passenger flared up and used strong language,” Ogede said, adding that the hostess then walked away and did not return.

The lawyer described a tense cabin for the remainder of the flight. As the aircraft began its descent, the first hostess—the one Ogede called “polite and professional”—returned to ensure bags were stowed and assisted Emmanson by placing her purse in the overhead bin. After landing in Lagos, passengers disembarked and the incident ended without further disruption.

Ogede argued the exchange was avoidable: “With a little humility and humaneness, things might have turned out differently. If the first, professional hostess had handled the issue from the start, it wouldn’t have escalated.”

What the eyewitness says happened — timeline

• Pre-flight: Crew instructs passengers to fully switch off phones for take-off; “no airplane mode.”
• Initial interaction: First hostess issues instructions politely and explains exit protocols.
• Escalation: Second hostess insists Emmanson shut down her iPhone; passenger reports a faulty power button and asks for help.
• Failed de-escalation: Hostess refuses to handle the device, offers menu navigation steps; passenger says she can’t follow; exchange turns confrontational.
• Passenger reaction: Emmanson becomes upset and uses strong language after an alleged threat from the hostess.
• Landing & exit: Cabin remains tense; first hostess assists with stowage; passengers disembark in Lagos.

Ogede’s account centres on tone, empathy, and assistance: he believes a calmer approach—such as briefly helping the passenger navigate the settings or assigning another crew member to assist—could have resolved the phone-shutdown requirement without conflict.