The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended two ValueJet pilots following what it described as a serious breach of aviation safety protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the incident occurred on Tuesday, August 5, when the pilot initiated departure procedures from the designated bay without obtaining the required pre-departure clearance.
“This reckless action endangered the safety of ground personnel and other airport users, contravening established civil aviation regulations and international safety standards,” the NCAA stated.
As a result, the licences of both the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, have been suspended with immediate effect.
The NCAA emphasized the gravity of the violation and said the suspensions would remain in place pending the outcome of a full investigation into the incident.
The agency reiterated its commitment to enforcing strict compliance with safety standards across all aviation operations in the country.
