Passengers at Maiduguri International Airport experienced hours of tension and frustration on Monday after a Max Air pilot allegedly refused to operate a scheduled flight over unpaid entitlements.
The incident left more than 100 passengers stranded on the tarmac, with many expressing confusion and panic after boarding was abruptly halted.
Eyewitnesses said the pilot declined to proceed with the flight, prompting the cabin crew to attribute the disruption to a dispute over unpaid salaries.
One passenger, who declined to be named, said: “We had all taken our seats and were waiting for takeoff when the crew suddenly asked us to disembark.
They later explained that the pilot refused to fly due to unresolved issues with the management.”
Another traveller, identified only as Shola, confirmed that the pilots were protesting outstanding financial obligations owed by the airline.
Passengers reportedly waited for several hours before being told the matter had been settled.
“There was confusion at first, but we were later informed that the issue had been resolved and asked to re-board the aircraft,” Shola said.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the development, noting that the disagreement was handled internally.
“The flight departed around 2 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 added that while the NCAA oversees operational and safety standards, salary-related disputes are typically managed internally by the airline unless they threaten flight safety.
Max Air’s Executive Director, Shehu Wada, also confirmed the incident, describing it as a “communication gap” that had since been resolved.
“It was simply a miscommunication issue, and everything has been settled,” Wada said.