The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reconsider its suspension of ValueJet pilot Oluranti Ogoyi and co-pilot Ivan Oloba.
The association also urged the NCAA to hold Fuji musician Ayinde Wasiu, popularly known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate, accountable for actions that allegedly provoked the pilots’ “less than optimal discretion” during an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on August 5.
In a statement on Saturday signed by Galadima Abednego, its national president, NAAPE condemned what it described as KWAM 1’s “crude, unruly behaviour and arrogant display”.
“NAAPE calls on the authorities to lay the blame on KWAM 1 and make him face the full wrath of the law to prevent future incidents,” the statement read.
The NCAA had withdrawn the pilots’ licences for taking off without clearance after the musician allegedly attempted to block the aircraft from taxiing. The regulator also banned KWAM 1 from flying on any aircraft worldwide for six months.
While acknowledging that the ValueJet captain could have exercised better judgment, NAAPE said the intense provocation from the musician stretched the tolerance of “seasoned pilots with unblemished records”.
The association commended Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, for ordering a no-fly list against KWAM 1, and praised the NCAA for its swift actions.
It, however, insisted that the authority should restore the pilots’ licences after reviewing the circumstances of the incident.
“Passengers should always exercise restraint, knowing safety is aviation’s top priority. Let us cooperate with airlines to help them serve us better,” NAAPE said.
According to reports, KWAM 1 was denied boarding after refusing to hand over a flask suspected to contain alcohol to airline officials during security checks.