Drama As Max Air Pilot Refuses To Fly Over Unpaid Debt
There was drama at the Maiduguri International Airport on Monday as over 100 Max Air’s passengers were left stranded for hours due to a face-off between the airline’s pilots and management over unpaid debts.
According to reports, the incident caused panic and confusion among travellers who had already boarded the aircraft and were awaiting departure.
An eyewitness said the pilots refused to proceed with the flight, which the flight attendants blamed solely on the pilot’s unpaid entitlements.
This shocking development held the scheduled airline to ransom for some hours, sparking tension among the passengers, with the development forcing them to disembark in frustration after being informed of the dispute and refusal of the pilot to fly.
The traveller who was aboard the affected flight confirmed that boarding had been completed when the airline staff members suddenly instructed passengers to leave the aircraft and return to the terminal.
“We had all taken our seats and were waiting to take off when they asked us to disembark,” the source said.
According to the same source, passengers waited for several hours in uncertainty before the matter was eventually resolved.
“There was tension initially, but after some time, we were told the issue had been settled. We were later asked to re-board the aircraft,” the traveller said.
Confirming the development, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, said the dispute appeared to have been resolved amicably by both parties without regulatory intervention.
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“The flight later departed around past 2:00 pm, which means the issue was resolved. Since it was an internal matter, and the aircraft eventually flew, we consider it closed.”
The NCAA spokesman said. “We typically don’t intervene in salary-related disputes unless a formal report is submitted.”
He further emphasised that while the NCAA regulates safety and operational standards, issues such as wage disputes between staff and management are typically handled internally by the airline unless safety is compromised.
Max Air’s Executive Director, Shehu Wada, also confirmed the development, describing it as a result of miscommunication.
“It is a communication gap issue, and it has been resolved. That is how I can describe it basically,” he said.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
