The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended two pilots working with ValueJet for what it described as a serious violation of aviation safety protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

 

The incident involved a CRJ-900ER aircraft (registration number 5N-BXS) which began taxiing from its bay without securing mandatory pre-departure clearance. A 23-second video shared on NCAA’s official X (formerly Twitter) page showed the aircraft moving while ground personnel were still nearby, with some seen fleeing the area to avoid harm.

 

In a statement released late Tuesday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the pilots self-reported the breach. He described their action as “reckless” and a direct threat to the safety of airport workers and other users.

 

“The pilot in question commenced departure procedures without clearance, thereby endangering the lives of ground staff and violating both national and international aviation safety regulations,” the NCAA said.

 

As a result, the flight crew — Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba — have had their licences suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a full investigation.

 

“The NCAA views this incident with utmost seriousness and has taken swift enforcement action,” Achimugu stated. “We remain fully committed to upholding safety standards across Nigeria’s airspace and ensuring accountability at all levels.”

 

The aviation authority also reiterated its appeal to aviation stakeholders to strictly adhere to operational protocols in the interest of public safety.