FAAN blames KWAM 1 for airport violation

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued an official statement addressing a recent airport incident involving legendary Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1. The incident, which took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, has sparked widespread debate following the release of a viral video capturing the singer narrowly avoiding being struck by a ValueJet aircraft on the tarmac.

In the statement released on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, FAAN detailed the events that led to the disruption, which subsequently resulted in the suspension of two ValueJet pilots and raised concerns about aviation protocol violations and security breaches.

The incident reportedly occurred on August 5, 2025, at the domestic terminal during the boarding process for ValueJet flight VK 201 scheduled to depart for Lagos. FAAN stated that the situation began when aviation security officials attempted to inspect the contents of a flask that KWAM 1 had brought with him to the boarding gate.

According to FAAN, the singer refused to comply with security personnel who requested clarification on the liquid in the flask. Instead, he allegedly responded by spilling the substance—later confirmed to be alcohol—on one of the officers. This act was seen as both a violation of airport conduct and a breach of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and ICAO Annex 17 regulations, which strictly prohibit passengers from carrying liquids over 100ml beyond the checkpoint unless medically necessary and properly declared.

“The passenger was informed of this regulation but declined to comply,” FAAN explained. “As boarding continued, an airline security officer asked the passenger to step aside for further clarification. He refused and spilled the contents of the flask, which turned out to be alcohol, on the officer.”

The situation escalated further when the flight captain intervened in an effort to defuse the standoff. However, KWAM 1 allegedly remained defiant, even as other passengers completed boarding. When the captain eventually instructed that the aircraft doors be shut in preparation for departure, KWAM 1 reportedly made his way to the front of the plane and refused to exit the aircraft voluntarily.

This prompted officials from the Aviation Security (AVSEC) crime unit to remove him from the aircraft for further questioning. He was subsequently released, but the incident continued to raise red flags regarding aviation safety and protocol compliance.

In a related twist, FAAN also confirmed that the pilots involved in the incident violated safety procedures by initiating the aircraft’s departure sequence from the designated bay without first securing the required pre-departure clearance. This breach contributed to their immediate suspension pending further investigation.

Reaffirming its commitment to upholding safety and order within Nigeria’s aviation sector, FAAN warned that it would not tolerate breaches of this nature, regardless of the social status or fame of the individuals involved.

“No one is above the law,” FAAN declared. “All violations will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate sanctions will be meted out to anyone found culpable.”

The agency concluded by assuring the public that a full inquiry is underway to determine the extent of the violations and to implement further safety measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents in the future.

Source: JustNaija | Continue to Full Story…