Tension erupted at the Maiduguri International Airport on Monday after a Max Air pilot reportedly refused to operate a scheduled flight due to unresolved financial issues with the airline’s management, leaving over 100 passengers stranded for hours.

According to witnesses, the pilot’s refusal to fly stemmed from unpaid entitlements, which flight attendants confirmed as the reason for the unexpected delay. Passengers who had already boarded were asked to disembark, causing confusion and frustration at the terminal.

One traveller, identified simply as Shola, said the pilot and crew were protesting over unsettled debts and withheld allowances. “We had all taken our seats and were waiting to take off when they suddenly told us to leave the plane,” the passenger said.

The stranded travellers reportedly waited several hours in uncertainty before being informed that the matter had been resolved. “There was tension at first, but we were later told the issue had been settled and were asked to re-board,” another passenger recounted.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, said the dispute was resolved amicably without regulatory intervention.

“The flight eventually departed around 2 p.m., which means the issue was resolved. Since it was an internal matter and the aircraft took off, we consider it closed,” he said.

Achimugu explained that the NCAA only intervenes in salary or internal disputes if a formal complaint is lodged, noting that the agency’s primary focus is on safety and operational compliance.

Max Air’s Executive Director, Shehu Wada, also confirmed the development, attributing the disruption to a communication breakdown.

“It was a communication gap issue, and it has been resolved. That is basically what happened,” he stated.