Passengers of Max Air experienced tense moments at Maiduguri International Airport on Monday after a scheduled flight was delayed for hours due to a dispute between the airline’s management and its pilots over unpaid entitlements.
The incident left over 100 passengers stranded after the pilot reportedly refused to operate the flight until his grievances were addressed. The standoff led to confusion and panic among travellers who had already boarded the aircraft.
According to an eyewitness who requested anonymity, the pilot declined to proceed with the flight, a decision the flight attendants attributed to unresolved payment issues. The development forced passengers to disembark in frustration as negotiations dragged on.
Another passenger, identified only as Shola, told The PUNCH that boarding had been completed when airline officials suddenly instructed passengers to return to the terminal.
“We had all taken our seats and were waiting to take off when they asked us to disembark. It was tense, but after a while, they said the issue had been settled, and we re-boarded,” the traveller recounted.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident, noting that the disagreement was resolved amicably without regulatory intervention.
“The flight later departed around 2:00 p.m., meaning the issue was settled. Since it was an internal matter, and the aircraft eventually flew, we consider it closed,” Achimugu said.
He added that the NCAA typically does not intervene in salary or debt-related disputes unless safety or operational standards are at risk.
Max Air’s Executive Director, Shehu Wada, also confirmed the development, attributing the incident to a “communication gap.”
“It was simply a communication issue, and it has been resolved,” he said.
The flight eventually departed Maiduguri after several hours of delay, with passengers expressing relief that the situation did not escalate further.
