Passengers of Max Air experienced tense moments on Monday at the Maiduguri International Airport when pilots of the airline reportedly refused to operate a scheduled flight over alleged unpaid entitlements.
The standoff, which lasted several hours, left over 100 passengers stranded and sparked confusion and panic among travellers who had already boarded the aircraft and were awaiting departure.
According to eyewitnesses, the situation unfolded shortly after boarding was completed. Passengers were seated and awaiting takeoff when airline staff suddenly instructed everyone to disembark.
“We had all taken our seats and were waiting to take off when they asked us to leave the aircraft,” a passenger who identified himself simply as Shola told reporters.
Another traveller, who declined to give her name, said the flight attendants attributed the delay to a dispute between the pilot and management over unpaid allowances.
“The crew said the pilot refused to fly because he had not been paid. Everyone was shocked. People were murmuring and frustrated,” the eyewitness said.
The unexpected drama left passengers waiting for hours in the terminal amid uncertainty, until the airline eventually resolved the dispute internally.
“There was tension initially, but after some time, we were told the issue had been settled. We were later asked to re-board the aircraft,” one traveller said.
Confirming the incident, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Michael Achimugu, said the matter was an internal issue between the airline’s management and pilots, which was amicably resolved without regulatory intervention.
“The flight later departed around past 2:00 p.m., which means the issue was resolved. Since it was an internal matter and the aircraft eventually flew, we consider it closed,” Achimugu stated.
He further clarified that the NCAA typically does not intervene in salary or welfare disputes unless such issues compromise passenger safety.
“We regulate safety and operational standards. Matters of wages or staff welfare are usually handled internally by airlines unless safety is at risk,” he added.
When contacted, Max Air’s Executive Director, Mr. Shehu Wada, confirmed the incident but downplayed the situation, describing it as a “communication gap” that had since been addressed.
“It was a communication issue, and it has been resolved. That’s how I can describe it basically,” Wada said.
