The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has appealed to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to review the suspension of a ValueJet pilot and her first officer over the August 5 tarmac incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, involving Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1.
In a statement signed on Saturday by its National President, Galadima Abednego, NAAPE called for a transparent, unbiased, and open investigation into the incident, which disrupted a Lagos-bound ValueJet flight.
The pilots were sanctioned following a security breach reportedly caused by KWAM 1’s actions on the tarmac. While Abednego acknowledged that the ValueJet captain’s discretion during the incident could have been better, he strongly condemned the musician’s conduct, describing it as “crude, unruly, and arrogant.”
“Aviation rests on two pillars—safety and security—and as a frontline professional association, NAAPE places the highest premium on these principles,” Abednego stated. He praised the Minister of Aviation and the NCAA Director-General for taking prompt action in the public interest but insisted that KWAM 1 should be held fully accountable for his actions to deter future occurrences.
The NAAPE president urged the NCAA to restore the licences of the suspended pilots, stressing that the intense provocation caused by the artiste tested the patience of seasoned pilots with spotless professional records. He also called on ValueJet to continue standing by its crew throughout the process.
Abednego further appealed to the flying public to cooperate with aviation workers and authorities, emphasising that safety remains the industry’s top priority.
KWAM 1, who initially denied wrongdoing, was later placed on a no-fly list by the aviation ministry. On Friday, he issued a statement expressing regret for his behaviour during the incident.
