NAHCO Baggage Vehicle Hits Air Peace Airbus A320, Grounds Aircraft in Lagos
Air Peace has alerted passengers to possible flight delays and cancellations following significant damage to one of its Airbus A320 aircraft by a ground handling vehicle at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MMA1), Lagos.
The airline said the aircraft was damaged on Wednesday when a baggage conveyor belt vehicle belonging to and operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) crashed into its engine while on the ground.
The incident occurred shortly after the Airbus A320 completed Flight P47427 from Kano and all passengers on board had safely disembarked.
Air Peace, in a statement issued by its management, said the NAHCO ground handling equipment tore into the aircraft, causing extensive damage and rendering it completely unserviceable.
The development has forced the airline to withdraw the aircraft from operations, creating disruptions to its flight schedule as the plane had been rostered for several services across the carrier’s network in the coming days.
The airline warned that the grounding of the aircraft would result in delays to a number of scheduled flights, while some services could be cancelled as it makes adjustments to available aircraft within its fleet.
“This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days,” Air Peace stated.
It added: “Consequently, several scheduled services will experience delays, while some may regrettably be cancelled as we work to mitigate the disruption through fleet adjustments.”
The carrier apologised to passengers whose travel plans may be affected, assuring them that its operational and customer service teams were working to minimise the inconvenience arising from the incident.
According to the airline, available alternatives would be provided where possible, while affected passengers would receive necessary assistance from its customer service personnel.
Air Peace described the accident as an unforeseen ground handling incident and appealed to its customers for patience and understanding as it works to manage the operational consequences.
The airline further reiterated its commitment to maintaining safety standards, stressing that the safety of passengers, crew and equipment remained its highest priority.
It disclosed that it was collaborating with the ground handling company and relevant aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances that led to the accident.
Air Peace said the investigation would seek to establish the cause of the incident and ensure appropriate measures were put in place to prevent a recurrence.
The airline expressed appreciation to its customers for their continued support, saying it was working diligently to address the operational challenges caused by the grounding of the Airbus A320 and restore stability to its flight schedule.
