Nigerian Airline Speak As FG Suspends Its 2 Pilots, Reason Emerges
- The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has decided to suspend two pilots of ValueJet airline
- The decision follows an incident that occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
- ValueJet has responded to the suspension and confirmed that the crew involved have been removed immediately from active duty
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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licences of two pilots employed by ValueJet Airlines, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba.
The decision was due to a serious breach of safety protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Source: Getty Images
The incident involved a ValueJet aircraft departing from its designated bay without adhering to mandatory pre-departure clearance protocols.
The suspension was disclosed in a statement by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA.
According to the statement, the suspended pilot commenced departure procedures from the designated bay without adhering to the mandatory pre-departure clearance protocols.
Part of the statement reads:
"The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirms that it has received reports concerning a serious breach of aviation safety protocols by a ValueJet pilot at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (Domestic Terminal) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
"Preliminary information indicates that the pilot in question commenced departure procedures from the designated bay without adhering to the mandatory pre-departure clearance protocols.
"This reckless action endangered the safety of ground personnel and other airport users, contravening established civil aviation regulations and international safety standards.
NCAA said that the incident will not be taken lightly and immediately suspended the pilot's license.
It added:
"Consequently, the Authority has taken immediate enforcement action by suspending the licences of the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co- pilot, First officer Ivan Oloba with immediate effect.
"This suspension will remain in place pending the conclusion of a full investigation into the incident.
"The Authorty hereby reaffirms all stakeholders of its commitment to safety."
Source: Facebook
ValueJet management responds
ValueJet Airlines has responded to the incident, acknowledging its severity and assuring its commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.
The airline has initiated an internal review and investigation to understand the root cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
"ValueJet is aware of the incident that occurred on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, involving one of our aircraft departing from the designated bay.
"We accept the seriousness of this incident and are fully cooperating with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in their ongoing investigation. The crew involved were removed immediately from active duty, pending the outcome of a thorough internal review and investigation that has commenced to understand the root cause and prevent any recurrence.
"At ValueJet, safety is not negotiable. We operate under strict adherence to regulatory procedures and international safety standards, and we remain committed to accountability and improvement across all levels of our operations.
"We appreciate the NCAA’s swift response and will continue to work closely with the Authority to uphold the integrity of Nigerian aviation sector."
Air Peace begin direct flights from Abuja to London
The development will make Air Peace the first Nigerian carrier to operate direct services from the country’s capital to both of the United Kingdom’s major international gateways.
Air Peace said the starting fares for the route will be N1 million, and it will be operated with Boeing 777 aircraft.
Source: Legit.ng
