Ibom Air Gives Hint on Those Who May Have Leaked Video of Passenger on Social Media
- Ibom Air denied releasing the viral video of a passenger being removed from an aircraft while nude, with the airline emphasizing that its staff did not record or distribute the footage
- The incident occurred on August 10 when the passenger refused to turn off her electronic device, violating safety regulations, leading the crew to restrain her for security
- Despite public criticism over the video's distribution, Ibom Air defended its actions, reiterating its commitment to safety and customer service, though it has yet to address the source of the video leak
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Ibom Air's management stated on Monday that the airline had not made public the widely shared footage of a customer being hauled off an aircraft while n*ked.
Source: Getty Images
This statement was made by Aniekan Essienette, Group Manager of Marketing and Communications at Ibom Air, in response to the controversy surrounding the incident that has taken over social media.
In an interview with TVC News on Monday, Essienette stated that although the footage was captured on the aircraft, Ibom Air employees did not record or distribute it. She added that while the video was recorded on the plane, several of the passengers were not Ibom Air staff members. "Anyone could have taken it," she said.
“I can tell you categorically that Ibom Air did not release the video. We do not condone such indecent exposure, and it is unfortunate that the video has gone viral,” she stated.
In violation of safety regulations enforced by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which require the complete shutdown of devices during flight, the passenger allegedly refused to turn off her electronic device, leading to the incident on August 10.
When the passenger refused to exit, the crew restrained her to ensure her safe removal, prompting the pilot-in-command to call for security, according to the Ibom Air official.
“Our crew had to restrain her to ensure security could esc*rt her off the plane,” she explained.
The intervention came amid growing public outcry over the incident, which has sparked discussions in Nigeria regarding airline behaviour, passenger rights, and aviation security.
Many Nigerians have condemned the video's wide distribution, calling the passenger's treatment dehumanising and degrading.
Ms. Essienette defended the airline's actions despite the criticism, emphasising Ibom Air's commitment to safety and customer service.
“Ibom Air values our customers and prides itself on reliability and excellent service. We remain committed to these principles,” she said.
Source: UGC
She urged passengers to respect aviation regulations, stressing that “most people obey the rule to switch off devices. The airline environment is controlled, and safety must come first.”
However, Ibom Air has not yet stated if it will investigate the source of the video leak or take action against those involved.
FG gives order to Ibom Air over passengers’ conduct
Legit.ng reported that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered that any employee of Ibom Air who leaked the video exposing a female passenger engaged in an altercation on board be punished.
Keyamo said in a statement on Monday that, although it was acceptable to record the incident for use as evidence in court, it was "totally unacceptable" to make the clip publicly available, especially when it included indecent exposure.
An angry female passenger attacked a flight attendant on an Ibom Air aircraft and confronted airport security officers in videos posted on X.
Source: Legit.ng
