In widely circulated videos, Emmanson was seen being dragged by airline staff during the flight, sparking nationwide debate and concerns about airline conduct and passenger behaviour.
Speaking on Tuesday during the ongoing Emergency National Civil Aviation Security Committee and Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the matter had entered a fresh stage of investigation.
I have spoken with Ms. Emmanson this morning. We are also inviting the Ibom Air cabin crew for continued investigation on the incident. They will be here tomorrow, Achimugu said while responding to questions after his presentation.
He explained that the pilot-in-command did not immediately alert security operatives after landing in Lagos because the issue had appeared resolved before the aircraft left Uyo. However, Emmanson reportedly visited the restroom after touchdown and became the last passenger to disembark, drawing renewed attention to the matter.
Achimugu assured stakeholders that the NCAA is committed to uncovering the full details. He stressed that the Authority would leave no stone unturned in its probe to establish what truly transpired during the controversial flight.
Also addressing the meeting, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, pointed to indiscipline among some air travellers and lapses in professional conduct by crew members and airport staff as factors behind rising cases of unruly behaviour in the industry.
He cautioned against deliberate violations of aviation rules but commended the NCAA for maintaining regulatory vigilance. Abdulfatai urged other agencies in the sector to complement the Authority’s efforts to strengthen discipline and safety within Nigeria’s aviation space.
