A vehicle operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) has hit a brand new plane owned by Air Peace, grounding the airline’s operation.
The incident, on Friday, disrupted flight operations involving the brand-new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft owned by Air Peace Limited.
The incident occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
A reliable source at the airport said the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BYH, was scheduled to operate Flight P47750 from Lagos to Accra, Ghana when the collision occurred.
The source, who would not want to be quoted, said that the luggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by NAHCO collided with the aircraft’s engine while it was on the ground after passengers had completed boarding.
The source said: “The impact caused visible damage, resulting in a dent and tear on the aircraft’s Thrust Reverser Cowling, a part of the engine cover, prompting an immediate safety assessment and grounding of the aircraft.
“As a result of the incident, about 150 passengers already on board were asked to disembark, leading to operational delays and disruptions.”
The source added that nine scheduled flights assigned to the aircraft for the day were affected, leaving numerous passengers stranded or rebooked on alternative services.
The source added: “Beyond passenger inconvenience, the incident has financial implications, as engine-related repairs on modern commercial aircraft are known to be capital-intensive.
“Earlier in the year, a similar incident involving engine cowling damage reportedly cost approximately $3.5 million to rectify.”He, however, said that no injuries were reported, adding that investigations were expected to reveal the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tayo Ajakaye, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications at NAHCO, was not available for comments on the matter.
