ValueJet Breaks Silence After NCAA Suspended 2 Pilots Over Abuja Incident

ValueJet has addressed the incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, which resulted in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspending its pilots.

NCAA said its preliminary information indicated that the ValueJet pilot initiated departure procedures from the assigned bay without following the required pre-departure clearance protocols.

LEADERSHIP recalls that NCAA described the pilot’s actions as “reckless,” adding that it “endangered the safety of ground personnel and other airport users,” and clearly violated established civil aviation regulations and international safety standards.

As part of its immediate enforcement action, the NCAA immediately suspended the licences of the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba.

Reacting to the development in an official statement on Wednesday, the airline acknowledged the incident and assured the public that it fully cooperates with the NCAA as investigations continues.

“We acknowledge the seriousness of this incident and are fully cooperating with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in their ongoing investigation,” ValueJet management said.

“The crew involved were removed immediately from active duty, pending the outcome of a thorough internal review and investigation.”

The airline emphasised that safety remains its top priority, promising full accountability and adherence to regulatory standards.

“At ValueJet, safety is not negotiable. We operate under strict adherence to regulatory procedures and international safety standards.

“We remain committed to accountability and improvement across all levels of our operations,” the statement added.

ValueJet also commended the NCAA for its prompt response and reiterated its commitment to supporting efforts to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

“We appreciate the NCAA’s swift response and will continue to work closely with the Authority to uphold the integrity of Nigerian aviation sector,” the statement concluded.