Drama unfolded at Maiduguri International Airport on Monday as over 100 Max Air passengers were left stranded for hours due to a face-off between the airline’s pilots and management over unpaid emoluments.
Passengers had already boarded the aircraft and were awaiting departure when the pilots suddenly refused to fly, citing unpaid entitlements, a situation that caused panic and confusion.
Passengers who were on the flight said the situation lasted for hours, following which frustrated passengers had to disembark and go back into the terminal building.
“We had all taken our seats and were waiting to take off when they asked us to disembark,” a passenger who preferred anonymity said.
The passenger said the situation was eventually resolved even though it took some hours.
Confirming the development, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, said the dispute appeared to have been resolved amicably by both parties without regulatory intervention.
“The flight later departed around past 2:00 pm, which means the issue was resolved. Since it was an internal matter, and the aircraft eventually flew, we consider it closed.”
The NCAA spokesman said. “We typically don’t intervene in salary-related disputes unless a formal report is submitted.”
He further emphasised that while the NCAA regulates safety and operational standards, issues such as wage disputes between staff and management are typically handled internally by the airline unless safety is compromised.
Max Air’s Executive Director, Shehu Wada, also confirmed the development, saying it was caused by miscommunication.
“It is a communication gap issue, and it has been resolved. That is how I can describe it basically,” he said.
