The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to place ace musician and Afrobeat maestro King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM 1, on a NO-FLY list pending further and full investigation of the near-fatal incident that occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday.
In a tweet cited on the minister’s official X handle, the minister lamented the sudden loss of sanity at the local wing of the airport, saying the musician must be sanctioned.
The minister alluded to the fact that the NCAA had temporarily suspended the licences of the captain and pilot of the ValuJet airline for expressing such anger instead of exercising caution, saying the defiant passenger must also face a penalty.
He therefore directed that KWAM1’s case be reported to all airlines, both local and international, for full implementation of the no-fly order.
The minister maintained that anyone or any airline who flouts the directive risks withdrawal of their operating licence.
Recall that KWAM 1 had disrespected the airline official and security personnel who accosted and advised him not to board the flight with a liquid content suspected to be alcohol. Instead, he attempted to prevent the aircraft from positioning to taxi for departure.
The minister said both sides breached standard safety protocol as required by the INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION (ICAO).
