The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the immediate suspension of two pilots of domestic carrier, ValueJet, following a serious violation of aviation safety protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the incident occurred on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the airport’s domestic terminal.
According to him, preliminary findings revealed that the flight crew initiated departure procedures from the designated bay without securing the mandatory pre-departure clearance.
The Authority described the conduct as a grave safety infraction, warning that such disregard for operational protocols not only violates civil aviation regulations and international safety standards but also endangers the lives of ground personnel and other airport users.
In response to the breach, the NCAA said it has suspended the licenses of the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, with immediate effect.
The enforcement action, NCAA says, will remain in force pending the outcome of a full-scale investigation into the incident.
The regulatory body reiterated its unwavering commitment to aviation safety and warned that it would not hesitate to take decisive action against any individual or operator found compromising established procedures.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen