Chaos Averted: NCAA grounds ValueJet pilots after safety breach
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The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 5, is considered a major breach of both national civil aviation regulations and international safety standards, as it endangered the lives of ground personnel and other airport users.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the immediate suspension of two ValueJet pilots following a serious safety violation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (Domestic Terminal).
According to a statement signed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the Authority received reports indicating that the aircraft’s captain, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and First Officer Ivan Oloba initiated departure procedures without obtaining mandatory pre-departure clearance from air traffic control.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 5, is considered a major breach of both national civil aviation regulations and international safety standards, as it endangered the lives of ground personnel and other airport users.
“The NCAA views this incident with utmost seriousness. This kind of reckless conduct undermines aviation safety and cannot be tolerated,” the statement read.
In response, the licences of both the captain and first officer have been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation.
The Authority reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to upholding safety protocols and reassured the public and industry stakeholders of its zero-tolerance stance on any infraction that compromises aviation safety.
This latest enforcement action comes amid the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance across Nigeria’s airspace.
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