Air Peace Faces Delays, Cancellations After Ground Equipment Rams Aircraft In Lagos

Nigeria's largest airline, Air Peace, has announced possible flight delays and cancellations after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft sustained significant damage when a baggage conveyor belt vehicle struck its engine at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MMA1) in Lagos.

The incident occurred shortly after Flight P47427 arrived safely from Kano and passengers had disembarked without incident.

According to the airline, the baggage conveyor belt vehicle, operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), crashed into one of the aircraft's engines while the aircraft was on the ground.

Air Peace said the impact caused extensive damage, rendering the Airbus A320 unserviceable and forcing the airline to make adjustments to its flight schedule.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the airline explained that the aircraft had been scheduled to operate several flights across its domestic network in the coming days.

"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," the airline said.

Air Peace apologised to passengers whose travel plans may be affected, assuring them that operational and customer service teams were working to minimise disruptions by providing available alternatives and necessary assistance.

The airline reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority and confirmed that it is collaborating with the relevant ground handling company and aviation authorities to determine the cause of the incident.

"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," the statement added.

Efforts to obtain an official response from NAHCO were unsuccessful, as the company declined to comment on the incident.

However, a source familiar with the development told newsmen that the collision may have been triggered by a medical emergency involving the operator of the baggage conveyor vehicle.

According to the source, the operator, identified simply as Mr. Sunday, reportedly collapsed while operating the equipment, causing the vehicle to move forward uncontrollably before crashing into 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 circumstances surrounding the reported medical emergency have not been independently confirmed, and aviation authorities are expected to establish the exact cause of the incident through their investigation.

The damaged aircraft remains grounded as the airline works to minimise disruptions across its network.