Aviation

Airlines Operators Threaten to Boycott Rivers State over Detention of Pilots

Meggison
Meggison
Meggison

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has urged the Rivers state government to release two pilots of Caverton Helicopters that were arrested on Tuesday and taken into custody within 24 hours or face boycott of all schedule and unscheduled commercial and private flight operations, including oil and gas offshore flight services, into Port Harcourt for a period of three months.

In a statement said by its Chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison, AON said it condemns the move in the strongest term and considers it very unlawful in the face of the fact that the airline had secured all necessary approvals from the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the flight in line with the protocols for exemption of Essential flights as issued by the NCAA.

The AON also frowned at what it described as crude action because the pilots were only doing their lawful duties “which was also in line with President Muhammed Buhari’s exemption Order of the Oil and Gas sector during the shutdown exercise.”

“Aviation is under the exclusivity list of the federal government and the Port Harcourt NAF Base is a federal government entity outside the jurisdiction of the Rivers state government.

“The Airline Operators of Nigeria hereby demands the immediate and unconditional release of the two pilots with all purported charges dropped so that they can go back to their families for the Easter holidays and return to their jobs.

“However, should the Rivers state government fail to release the pilots within 24 hours, airlines in the country will be forced to boycott all schedule and unscheduled commercial and private flight operations, including oil and gas offshore flight services, into Port Harcourt for a period of three months.

“We therefore hope our appeal for the immediate release of the pilots within 24 hours will be heeded by Rivers state government otherwise airlines in the country will have no other option than to completely boycott all operations into Port Harcourt,” said the statement.

 

Avatar

Aviation Media

About Author

Aviation Media Africa is a media platform that publishes the latest news and insights in aviation, maritime, and transport across Africa.

You may also like

Aviation

Fadugba: Nigeria has Unstable Regulatory Environment

  • August 1, 2015
The CEO of African Aviation Services Limited and former Director General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Nick Fadugba said that for
Aviation

Interview with Chris Aligbe :FG Should Grant Aviation Infant Industry Status

  • October 1, 2015
Industry consultant and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe appraises the kind of minister the aviation industry needs as well