Pilots’ Union Demands NCAA Reverse Suspension of ValueJet Crew in K1 De Ultimate Airport Saga

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately lift the suspension of the ValueJet captain and first officer caught in the center of the Abuja Airport controversy involving Fuji icon Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1 De Ultimate).

The dispute erupted after K1 allegedly disrupted a ValueJet flight at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport over a flask of liquid he insisted on carrying aboard. Following the incident, the NCAA grounded the pilots alongside placing K1 on a no-fly list, a move that has drawn criticism from aviation stakeholders.

In a strongly worded statement, NAAPE argued that punishing the pilots for enforcing safety protocols sends the wrong message to the industry and compromises crew authority in the cockpit.

"The suspension is unjust, demoralizing, and undermines the safety culture we are trying to build," the association stated, warning of potential industrial action if the sanctions are not reversed.

The call adds another layer of tension to an already dramatic saga—now involving leaked audio of K1 allegedly threatening ValueJet’s owner, public outcry, and political commentary from the aviation minister.