A Max Air flight scheduled to depart Maiduguri on Sunday was delayed for about one hour and thirty minutes following a pilot’s protest over unpaid entitlements.
Reports indicated that the delay occurred when the pilot allegedly refused to operate the aircraft, citing outstanding salary arrears owed by the airline’s management.
According to eyewitness accounts, the passengers were left stranded at the Maiduguri International Airport as negotiations between the pilot and the airline’s representatives dragged on.
Normalcy was later restored after the airline reportedly settled the outstanding payments, allowing boarding to commence at about 2:00 p.m.
However, several passengers expressed concern over the incident, describing it as distressing and unprofessional.
“Many of us were worried. We’re glad the issue was resolved, but we couldn’t help wondering if the pilot was in the right frame of mind to fly after such a confrontation,” one passenger said.
Another passenger urged Max Air to address internal staff welfare issues promptly to prevent future disruptions to flight schedules.
Efforts to obtain comments from Max Air officials in Maiduguri were unsuccessful, as management representatives declined to speak on the matter.
The incident, which caused a brief stir at the airport, has renewed discussions among travelers on the need for improved labour relations in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
