By Ismail Azeez
Air Peace Limited has announced operational disruptions following an incident in which a baggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) damaged one of its Airbus A320 aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MMA1), Lagos.
The airline disclosed in a statement that the incident occurred shortly after Flight P47427 arrived safely from Kano and passengers had disembarked. It said the NAHCO ground handling equipment crashed into the aircraft’s engine, leaving the aircraft severely damaged and completely unserviceable.
According to released by the Air Peace Limited Management, the affected aircraft had been scheduled to operate multiple flights across its domestic network in the coming days. As a result, several flights are expected to experience delays, while others may be cancelled as the airline adjusts its fleet to minimise the disruption.
“Air Peace Limited confirms that one of its Airbus A320 aircraft sustained significant damage on the ground today at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MMA1), Lagos, after a Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) baggage conveyor belt vehicle crashed into the aircraft’s engine shortly after the completion of Flight P47427 from Kano and the safe disembarkation of passengers.
“The ground handling equipment belonging to and operated by NAHCO tore into the aircraft and, as such, rendering the aircraft totally unserviceable.
“This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days. Consequently, several scheduled services will experience delays, while some may regrettably be cancelled as we work to mitigate the disruption through fleet adjustments.
“We sincerely apologise to our esteemed passengers whose travel plans may be affected by this unforeseen ground handling incident. Our operational and customer service teams are actively working to minimise the inconvenience by providing available alternatives and ensuring that affected passengers receive the necessary assistance.
“At Air Peace, the safety of our passengers, crew, and equipment remains our highest priority. We are working closely with the relevant ground handling company and aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.
“We appreciate the patience, understanding, and continued support of our valued customers as we diligently manage the operational challenges arising from this incident,” it stated.