By Deborah Chinyelum
A few days ago the internet went agog with the story of Miss Comfort Emmamson who allegedly displayed unruly behaviour.
The Group Manager, Marketing and Communications Department in Ibom Airline claimed during an interview with TVC that the airline was committed to serving people well, and they believed that was what they were doing and would continue to do. She claimed on behalf of Ibom Airline that they were doing their job; that passengers needed to know that they had responsibilities, not just rights. We hear you.
I just want to ask questions based on the information put out to the public. According to some air travel experts interviewed by TVC, the crew members are trained to handle difficult passengers. I’m really curious. Is manhandling people part of the training? Blocking the way, so that they can’t pass, is it part of the training? The so-called training they received is using force? Without the use of force, issues cannot be resolved? You can’t talk to them amicably as peaceful human beings?
We are judging based on what we saw, right? After all, we didn’t even get to hear from Miss Comfort herself. Is assaulting a passenger part of the training? Exposing her private parts and taking videos is part of the training, I suppose? To think that the airline is trying to justify their madness, I find it repulsive.
The fact that from the airport they bundled her to Kirikiri Prison is something that should also be addressed. We didn’t hear anything from her, or rather, she wasn’t given the chance to speak. The next thing we heard, judgment had been passed on her in the court of public opinion.
And I’m wondering, is this some sort of joke? Among the 30 rights we have, right to fair hearing is part of it, freedom of speech is also there, amongst others. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) which is public, it’s there. What happened to all those rights? What happened to treating her with dignity? Respecting her privacy? Letting her say her side of the story? And others.
We do not know what led to the action of this lady. To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction – this is Newton’s Second Law of Motion, but it applies to human interactions. The video only showed the lady fighting back, we don’t know what went down behind the scenes.
I dare say the airline pushed the narrative they wanted, though their flaws are still visible. Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) came out to condemn Miss Comfort’s actions based on what was shown to the public. No effort to get her own side of the story, how does that even work? Decisions are made based on one side’s narrative? Conclusions are drawn without hearing from both parties? Is that the new definition of fairness in this country?
Now, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) gave their verdict to Miss Comfort Emmamson, but nothing was said or done to Ibom Airline for making such video and posting it uncensored like that. Whether they claim it was not done by any of the airline officials, the fact is that it was done on their turf and they should have known they were being recorded.
The air hostess was facing the camera and saying, “See, she’s slapping me”. This lady was stripped of her upper clothing by one of the female officials, nothing was said or done by AON. More like, they were trying to put it under the bus, act like it’s nothing. What we saw rather, was the AON putting a lifetime no fly ban on the lady (I hear it has been lifted).
I guess posting such video without her consent on the internet that never forgets is not an offence right? Is it part of the job description of the AON to cover up for airlines and just put the blame on passengers? No sanction? No rules? Are airlines allowed to do as they please, and then label the passengers involved?
A recording of one of the passengers of the airline narrating what he witnessed was posted on YouTube. Summarily, the air hostess was at fault, according to his account. To further corroborate his claims, more people have come out to speak ill of the air hostess.
A video of a previous altercation with the said air hostess was also posted online. They were basically saying that she doesn’t have a good persona. Yet, she’s an air hostess.
You have no business working in the service industry if you don’t have control over your emotions. Two wrongs never make a right. Regardless of whomever started the problem, you should be able to deal with the situation without resorting to violence. However, since the AON decided to wave it off, I guess they are in support. We should probably applaud them for a job “well done”.
The lady might have had her faults, but the airline officials didn’t handle it properly. It was injustice to have remanded her in prison (especially when nobody had heard from her), and placed a lifetime flight ban on her, while letting the airline off the hook.
In the midst of all this, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seems to have risen to the occasion by issuing a statement that recognizes that Miss Comfort was victimized as well. There are lawyers that have offered to take up her case, pro bono.
Presently, the said airline is said to have withdrawn charges against the lady. Her release from Kirikiri Prison has been ordered. What next? Is this how it ends?
Chinyelum, a 300 level Library and Information Science student, is on Industrial Attachment to Fides Media.
