More than the shenanigans of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1) and the somewhat hasty and speedy taxiing for takeoff by the pilot of the Value Jet plane, the biggest blame for the near tragedy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, lies squarely with the security apparatus of the airport, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
What happened was an abysmal failure of security and a dereliction of responsibility by the managers of Nigeria’s second most important aviation hub. Those responsible for security, along with key officials of the airline and the two regulatory agencies—perhaps beholden to the musician, awestruck by his fame, and maybe his connections to the levers of power—failed to do their job. They succeeded in telling the whole world that the security of such a critical facility could be breached at will by the high and well-connected, without any immediate consequence or even an attempt to stop them.
They allowed K1 to ride roughshod over them like the lord of the tarmac, untamed by security and aviation officials, until the advancing aircraft put a stop to his ill-advised power show and shenanigans. He was forced to scamper for safety not by the security personnel, but by the machine itself.
The musician was tacitly allowed to violate the sanctity of the airport and roam endlessly and dangerously in restricted areas with only feeble attempts to stop him. No, they didn’t check him. They pleaded with him and begged him. There was no gun drawn, no attempt to physically bundle him away from where he should never have been in the first place. A less-known individual, unconnected to the power loop, would have been met with immediate consequences, including physical restraint and possibly handcuffs.
Proactive security, acting on firm instructions from officials or under official cover, would have taken K1 off the tarmac forcefully, saving him from himself and saving the country from international embarrassment and possibly sanctions.
Now, the country may be flagged by international aviation organizations for lax security at its second most important international gateway. The world, including international aviation regulators, watched the sordid scenes from our capital. There will be consequences someday when it’s time for airport certification.
Certainly, we have abundant reasons to vilify the singer for his indiscretion and utter recklessness that almost cost him his life. His act on the tarmac was one of ultimate impunity, which could have resulted in a monumental aviation disaster. He not only endangered his own life but also those of the officials on the tarmac, the passengers and crew of the Value Jet flight, and possibly many more.
The claptrap of an apologia K1 released has further fueled public outrage. Rather than exculpating him, the statement from his media manager simply validated the caught-in-the-act video footage, now viral, and underscored the vileness of his temper, the impunity of his action, and the utter recklessness of it all.
K1 was lucky. It could have been a gory end. He almost paid for his supercilious carriage and indiscretion with his life. Not every situation can—or should—be turned into a band-leader-and-band-boys episode by him. When the pilot revved the engine and, at full throttle, began taxiing toward the runway, K1 was in its direct path. He ducked under the plane’s wings just before the moment of impact. It was a near tragedy; he was seconds away from being crushed or decapitated by the wings of an aircraft at full throttle.
He has repeatedly damaged his name and brand. That of August 5 is almost irreparable.
But the pilot, too, should be subject to sanctions. That act of putting the aircraft on full throttle while taxiing for the runway could have resulted in multiple tragedies. An aircraft is not a car, and if there are issues relating to engine fidelity or passenger/crew altercation, safety procedures should be immediately activated. If it happens on the ground, operations are discontinued until the matter is firmly resolved. If it happens in the air, pilots usually request permission to land at the next available airport.
The pilot’s decision put the lives of those on the tarmac, as well as crew and passengers, at great risk. The plane’s wings could have decapitated or mangled the singer. The plane could have lost its bearing, resulting in a crash due to crew disorientation. The pilot’s action amounted to a serious professional error of judgment. Something could have gone horribly wrong.
FAAN, after suspending the pilot for breaching takeoff safety protocol, has now formally accused Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1) of disrupting flight operations during boarding of the Value Jet flight at Abuja Airport. According to a statement by FAAN, K1 was disallowed from taking a liquid substance onboard in line with aviation regulations. In anger, FAAN alleged, he harassed airline officials and spilled the content on them—the flask’s contents reportedly turned out to be alcohol. When the aircraft was ready for departure and after he was refused entry, the musician moved to the front of the aircraft to prevent its departure. FAAN failed to manage the situation; matters were allowed to escalate, and the fallout is now what is being managed.
The NCAA has also suspended the pilot for what it described as an act of recklessness and for breaching takeoff protocol. It also slammed a six-month ban on the musician—rightly so. The NCAA vowed to get to the root of the unsavory event. According to the agency:
“Everybody involved in this will be brought to book. We will do everything we can to get to the root of it. Everybody who needs to be punished or sanctioned will receive justice. Aviation rules are global and made for the safety of all; no individual will be exempt from accountability.”
To show its resolve, the NCAA has also officially petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police to launch a thorough investigation into the incident.
All sides to the near tragedy at the Abuja Airport must be probed, investigated, and sanctioned—irrespective of their position or affiliation.
—Adebanjo sent this piece via obanijesu@yahoo.com
