BREAKING: NCAA Suspends ValueJet Pilots; KWAM 1 Placed On No-Fly List

The Federal Government has taken sweeping disciplinary action in response to the recent altercation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport involving Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, and ValueJet airline crew members.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, announced on Thursday that KWAM 1 has been placed on a temporary no-fly list, while the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has already suspended the licenses of the pilot and captain involved in the incident.

The dramatic standoff occurred on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, when KWAM 1 was seen in video footage physically obstructing a ValueJet aircraft from taxiing on the runway. The Minister, in a strongly worded statement via his official X handle, described the actions of both parties as a “temporary loss of sanity and control,” warning that the situation could have easily resulted in “serious fatalities.”

“Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 have said, he CONSTANTLY moved his position on the tarmac to ACTUALLY BLOCK the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off,” Keyamo stated. “This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behaviour… akin to a hostage situation.”

While condemning KWAM 1’s conduct, the Minister also faulted the ValueJet crew, particularly the pilot and captain, for attempting to taxi while the obstruction was unresolved. “NO AMOUNT of provocation should make the Captain and Pilot of an aircraft begin to taxi without ensuring that the security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away.”

Citing breaches of standard safety protocol under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Keyamo praised the NCAA’s swift suspension of the crew’s licences but questioned the fairness of disciplining only one side.

“I have also questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party and not the other. What applies to the goose must also to the gander,” he said.

In what appears to be a move to restore balance and uphold aviation safety, the Minister directed the NCAA to immediately place KWAM 1 on a no-fly list pending the outcome of a full investigation. All domestic and international airlines have been instructed to comply, with a warning that any airline defying the directive risks suspension of its operating licence.

The development has sparked nationwide debate over airport security, VIP conduct, and the aviation sector’s response mechanisms. While KWAM 1’s team has yet to release an official statement, aviation stakeholders are applauding what they describe as a no-nonsense enforcement of international safety standards.

The NCAA says a full report on the incident will be made public after completion of its investigation.