Ibom Air has disclosed that on September 21st, a female passenger experienced a medical emergency shortly after take-off on board Ibom Air Flight 561 from Abuja to Lagos.

According to the airline, its cabin crew, fully trained in handling in-flight medical emergencies, responded swiftly and professionally by administering oxygen, CPR, and other first-aid protocols.

In a statement by the airline, “Before departure, the Senior Cabin Crew Member (SCCM) was notified of a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM), travelling with her husband and family. Shortly after take-off, and as the crew commenced in-flight service, a medical emergency was reported in the cabin. The SCCM and the team immediately assessed the situation and made a public announcement requesting medical personnel on board, but none were available.

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“The crew promptly applied the DRABCDE protocol, Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure in line with first-aid best practice. The passenger, who had no detectable pulse or breathing, was moved to the galley area where CPR and oxygen administration were carried out.”

The airline noted that in accordance with standard safety procedures, the captain decided to return to Abuja to ensure the passenger received immediate medical attention. During the flight back, the crew took turns performing chest compressions and providing updates to the captain until landing.

Upon arrival, the passenger, who had been successfully resuscitated by the Ibom Air crew, was handed over to the airport’s emergency medical response team for further care. At the time of transfer, the passenger’s pulse and breathing had been revived, and she was reported stable. The flight was subsequently turned around and resumed service,” the airline stated.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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