By Deborah Nnamdi
Ibom Air has distanced itself from the viral video showing a passenger in a state of undress during a recent in-flight incident, stating that none of its staff were responsible for releasing the footage.
The airline’s Group Manager for Marketing and Communications, Aniekan Essienette, addressed the controversy in an interview with TVC News on Monday. She confirmed that while the incident did occur aboard an Ibom Air flight, the video was not disseminated by the airline or its employees.
This clarification comes in the wake of comments by Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, who condemned the public release of the footage. The minister acknowledged the need to record such incidents for legal evidence but emphasized that sharing videos depicting indecent exposure was “totally unacceptable.” He also directed that any staff member found responsible should face disciplinary action.
Speaking on the matter, Essienette emphasized that the aircraft was not occupied exclusively by airline personnel at the time of the incident.
“Although the video was recorded onboard, there were several individuals present who were not Ibom Air staff,” she said. “I can categorically state that the video was not released by us. It’s unfortunate that it has gone viral.”
She added, “We do not condone any form of indecent exposure and would never have been the source of such a leak.”
Essienette explained that the passenger in question was forcibly removed from the aircraft after refusing to comply with instructions to disembark. According to her, the crew had to restrain the individual until security could intervene.
“She initially attempted to exit but was restrained due to certain developments that had occurred prior. Eventually, the pilot in command had to summon security,” she said. “To ensure a safe handover, our crew held her briefly, which led to what was later seen in the footage.”
Addressing broader concerns about rising incidents of disruptive behavior on flights, Essienette stressed that no airline would intentionally humiliate a passenger.
She called on authorities to shift focus toward preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
