Ibom Air has denied responsibility for the release of a viral video showing a female passenger partially naked during an altercation on board one of its flights.
This comes after the Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, threatened sanctions against any airline staff involved in leaking the footage. The incident happened on August 10, 2025, and has since drawn widespread public attention.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed the female passenger being restrained and dragged off the aircraft. Reports say the drama began when she allegedly refused to switch off her electronic device, in violation of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) safety rules.
According to Ibom Air officials, the passenger also refused to leave the plane when instructed, forcing the pilot-in-command to call security. Crew members had to restrain her so that security personnel could escort her out safely.
Reacting to the incident, Minister Festus Keyamo condemned the release of the video, describing it as “totally unacceptable” and “deplorable,” especially because it contained indecent exposure. He said recording such events for legal evidence was fine, but releasing them to the public violated the dignity of the passenger.
Keyamo directed that whoever was responsible for leaking the footage among airline staff should be identified and sanctioned. He also announced plans for more staff training in conflict management and public relations, as well as a joint security meeting with aviation stakeholders to prevent future incidents.
In response, Aniekan Essienette, Ibom Air’s Group Manager for Marketing and Communications, insisted that no employee of the airline was responsible for sharing the clip. She explained that while the footage was recorded onboard, several passengers who were not airline staff were present and could have filmed it.
Essienette stressed that Ibom Air does not condone indecent exposure and regretted that the video went viral. She reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to customer service, passenger safety, and adherence to aviation regulations.
She urged passengers to follow flight safety instructions, such as switching off devices when required, noting that compliance helps maintain order and safety on board. The airline has not yet confirmed whether it will carry out its own investigation into the source of the leak.
