VIDEO Rare incident in the airline industry: A pilot refused to take off because he had not been paid for five months / What he told the passengers on the plane
Magnicharters plane on the runway. Photo: Allan Clegg | Dreamstime.com
Mexico's civil aviation authority opened an investigation Friday after an airline pilot refused to take off in protest at reaching five months of unpaid wages, as he explained to dozens of passengers on the plane, reports France Presse.
“This plane will not take off until we get our due,” the pilot said in an announcement to passengers, according to a video posted online by a passenger that went viral but whose origin could not be independently verified by AFP.
A #pilot he locked himself in the cockpit of an airplane #Magnicharters y lo mantuvo”#kidnapped” in him @AICM_mxallegedly pulled haber sido despedido. Various empleados acusaron que les deben 5 meses de sueldo y aguinaldo. The authorities immediately activated the protocols of… pic.twitter.com/2CcPqVRfiZ
— Nacho Lozano (@nacholozano) December 20, 2025
In the video, the pilot identifies himself as Edgar Macias and explains the reasons for his action and the details of his professional situation.
He claims he is owed more than five months' wages and travel expenses and that neither he nor his colleagues have union protection.
“I feel sorry for you guys because you don't deserve this. I've been working for this airline for almost three years and I haven't missed a flight,” Macias told the passengers, adding that he is a father of three.
Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico confirmed that there was an incident around 15:00 local time (23:00 in Romania) on Magnicharters airline flight GMT780, which was going to connect the capital with the famous resort of Cancun in the Caribbean.
He stated on the X social network that an investigation was being carried out by the Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC).
It also stated in a statement that a departure was first attempted – unsuccessfully – due to a “minor problem with the machine”.
The crew was replaced, and at that point “the pilot made a statement to the passengers,” according to the regulator.
According to Mexican media, the captain was detained, something not confirmed by AFAC, and the passengers were evacuated.
Photo: Allan Clegg | Dreamstime.com
