Air Peace has announced possible flight delays and cancellations after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft was damaged by ground handling equipment at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Lagos.
The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft completed Flight P47427 from Kano and passengers had safely disembarked.
According to the airline, a baggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, crashed into the aircraft’s engine, causing serious damage and rendering the aircraft unserviceable.
Air Peace said the damaged aircraft had been scheduled to operate several flights within its network over the coming days, adding that the incident would significantly affect its operations.
“This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days,” the airline said.
It added that several scheduled services may experience delays, while some flights may be cancelled as the airline works to adjust its fleet and reduce disruption.
Air Peace apologised to affected passengers, saying its operational and customer service teams were working to provide available alternatives and necessary assistance.
The airline stressed that the safety of passengers, crew and equipment remains its highest priority.
It also said it was working with the relevant ground handling company and aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from NAHCO were unsuccessful, as the company reportedly declined to comment.
However, a source familiar with the incident said the collision occurred after the operator of the baggage conveyor belt vehicle suffered a medical emergency while on duty.
The source said the staff member, identified simply as Mr Sunday, collapsed while operating the equipment, causing the machine to move forward uncontrollably before hitting the aircraft.
“The staff member, Mr Sunday, slumped while operating the equipment. The machine then moved forward uncontrollably and hit the aircraft. That is what happened,” the source said.
The source added that the employee was immediately taken to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
“He is on admission at the FAAN hospital because it was an emergency,” the source added.
The development comes amid renewed concerns over ground handling safety, airport operations and the operational impact of aircraft damage on domestic flight schedules.
The post “Air Peace Flights Disrupted After NAHCO Ground Equipment Damages Aircraft” — Source Says Operator Collapsed Before Conveyor Belt Hit Engine appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
