Amid the ongoing controversy between Ibom Air and passenger Comfort Emmanson, Professor Philip Afaha, has shifted public attention to what he describes as the “real victim” of the incident — the airline crew member involved.
In a strongly worded statement, Afaha recounted that the young air hostess was allegedly “spanked severally by a deranged customer” while simply carrying out her duties. He praised her restraint and composure in the face of provocation, noting that she refrained from retaliating despite the assault.
“To have withstood those hittings without fighting back, this girl deserves a Nobel Prize for Peace or a national honour,” Afaha said.
He further alleged that the passenger’s actions were a calculated attempt to “create content” at the airport to boost her social media following — a plan he claimed the air hostess refused to entertain.
Afaha called on members of the public to help identify the crew member so he could personally reward her for what he described as “uncommon composure” and “emotional intelligence.”
“Ibom Air should elevate this walking specimen of emotional intelligence. She’s the real face of the aviation industry,” he concluded.
The incident, which has trended widely on social media under the hashtag #IbomAirWahala, continues to spark debate over professionalism, passenger behaviour, and staff welfare in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
