NAAPE to NCAA: Give Those Pilots Their Licences Back—Blame KWAM 1, Not the Crew

It’s been a wild week in Nigerian aviation. Pilots grounded. A superstar in the middle of it all. And now, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) is speaking up. Loud and clear.

Saturday, NAAPE’s president, Galadima Abednego, dropped a statement. He wants the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to rethink things. Two ValueJet pilots—suspended after that messy scene with KWAM 1 at Abuja airport—deserve another look, he says. Maybe even their licences back.

Let’s rewind. August 5. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. KWAM 1, the Fuji legend, gets into it with the crew. Flight to Lagos, delayed. Tension everywhere. The pilots? Suspended. Just like that.

Abednego isn’t saying the captain was perfect. “Could’ve used better judgment,” he admits. But he’s not letting KWAM 1 off the hook. “That behaviour? Out of line. Totally unacceptable.”

He’s calling for a real investigation. Not just a quick one. “Open, fair, and honest,” he says. “Let’s see what really happened.” But he’s clear—aviation is about safety and security. That’s the job. That’s the rule.

Abednego even gave a nod to the aviation minister and NCAA boss for acting fast. But he’s firm: “KWAM 1 should answer for what he did. Let’s not punish the pilots for someone else’s drama.”

He wants ValueJet to stand by their crew. He wants passengers to chill, too. “Work with the airlines. Respect the rules. Safety comes first, always.”

After all the noise, KWAM 1 finally said sorry. Posted online. Regrets and all that. But for NAAPE, the story isn’t over. Not until those pilots get a fair shake.

Sometimes, it’s not just about who shouts the loudest. It’s about doing what’s right.