Over 100 passengers at Maiduguri International Airport were stranded when Max Air pilots grounded the flight in protest over unpaid debts, though the issue was later resolved and the flight resumed.
No fewer than 100 passengers at Maiduguri International Airport found themselves stranded yesterday when a Max Air flight was grounded by the airline’s pilots in a dispute over unpaid wages. The protest began after boarding but before departure clearance, prompting staff to order passengers back into the terminal.
A source within the airline, who requested anonymity, confirmed the standoff, stating: “Yes, the pilots protested the debts allegedly owed to them by Max Air, but I can assure you that the issue has been resolved. The passengers are currently airborne as I am talking to you.” The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority also acknowledged the incident, saying, “The issue you spoke about has been resolved. The flight proceeded at about 1:00 p.m. It happened earlier today (yesterday).”
With the dispute settled, the passengers were eventually airlifted to their intended destination, bringing the disruption to an end.