NCAA probes ValueJet pilot for unsafe takeoff without clearance at Abuja airport on August 5.
Pilot and co-pilot suspended as aviation authority enforces strict safety and operational standards nationwide.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed it is investigating a serious safety violation involving a ValueJet pilot at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (Domestic Terminal) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
According to preliminary findings, the pilot reportedly initiated departure from the assigned parking bay without securing the required pre-departure clearance, a move that posed significant danger to ground staff and other airport users.
The NCAA described the act as a major breach of aviation safety regulations and international operational standards, stating that it is treating the matter with utmost gravity.
As part of its immediate response, the regulatory body has suspended the licenses of the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation.
