ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has ordered sanctions against any Ibom Air staff member found responsible for leaking video footage showing the indecent exposure of a female passenger involved in an onboard altercation.
In a statement on Monday, August 11, 2025, Keyamo said while filming the incident for use as court evidence was appropriate, releasing material containing indecent exposure to the public was “totally unacceptable” and amounted to “debas[ing] womanhood.”
Videos circulating on X showed the passenger confronting a flight attendant and later engaging in a scuffle with airport security personnel.
Ibom Air has since placed a travel ban on her for assaulting its cabin crew.
The Ministry of Aviation said the woman has been charged in court and remanded in Kirikiri correctional facility after failing to provide adequate sureties.
“We support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her,” Keyamo said.
“What is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us… whoever released that part of the video… should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.”
The minister also directed airlines to strengthen staff training in public relations and conflict de-escalation.
He announced that a joint security meeting with relevant agencies would be held next week to improve coordination in handling similar incidents.
“For genuinely aggrieved passengers, there are clearly laid-down remedies to address grievances,” he said, citing the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as the proper channel.
Keyamo reaffirmed that unruly passengers would continue to face aviation sanctions, including extended flight bans, with cases referred to other law enforcement agencies for further action.
