In a recent incident aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, passengers witnessed a disturbing altercation that led to the arrest of Comfort Benson.
Reports indicate that Benson exhibited unruly behavior during the flight, resulting in her being forcibly removed from the aircraft, partially undressed, and subsequently charged in court. She has been remanded in Kirikiri prison until October a development that has stirred controversy over alleged preferential treatment meted on popular singer KWAM 1, involved in controversy just one week ago.
In the incident reported across media platforms, KWAM1 had been stopped from boarding with a flask in his hands, suspected by the airline officials as containing alcoholic beverages, in response KWAM1 who was refused entry into the flight stood in front of the jet in protest, attempting to halt the takeoff, a development that the female pilot about didn’t find funny as she attempted to run over KWAM1, as she moved the jet and took off, leaving the protesting singer to run for his dear life.
In the heat of controversy on why KWAM1 is still walking free weeks after unlike Comfort Benson, charged to court and remanded in custody within 24hours of the incident.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a statement to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident. Mike Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, emphasized that airlines have the right, responsibility and prerogative to take legal action against passengers who violate regulations. In this case, Ibom Air exercised their right by pursuing charges against Benson.
Achimugu contrasted this with a previous incident involving popular musician KWAM1, where Value Jet chose not to take legal action. He highlighted that the airline’s decision to charge a passenger is not a matter of government intervention but rather a reflection of the airline’s policies and rights concerning passenger conduct.
The NCAA’s clarification sheds light on the authority airlines hold in managing passenger behavior and the legal recourse available to them in such situations.
