…NCAA Begins Investigation
…To Re-Certify Airplanes Before Returning To The Skies
Barely 24 hours after embattled Aero aircraft with 53 passengers from Port Harcourt to Lagos made emergency landing at Lagos Airport, two Air Peace B737 aircraft with registration numbers 5N-BQR and 5N-BQP today collided at the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos ramp.
The collision was said to have caused some damage to the two airplanes.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident, adding that it was investigating the collision of two Air Peace B737 aircraft.
NCAA spoke through its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, while responding to a question by Abelnewsng.com on whether the incident has been reported to the aviation regulator body.
He stated that the airline has reported, adding that NCAA was investigating the incident, but that the two airplanes would have to be certified by the NCAA before they can operate.
According to Adurogboye, “Yes the incidence has been reported .We are looking into it .However, the two aircraft will have to be repaired and rep-certified by the authority before they can return to service.”
The Corporate Communication Manager, Mr Christian Iwarah, also confirmed the incident.
A statement titled by Iwarah titled, “Press Statement On Ramp Incident Involving Two Of Our Aircraft” said, We confirm that at about 6.15am today, the winglet of our B737 aircraft with registration mark 5N-BQR, which was being towed within the very limited space at the ramp of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to position for departure, had a partial contact with the stabiliser of another of our B737 aircraft with registration mark 5N-BQP.”
He explained that although the points of contact of the two aircraft were only slightly impacted, the airline took the cautious decision to declare them unserviceable to enable proper investigation of the incident, checks and repair by our Engineering and Maintenance Department in line with its high safety standards.
He stated that there were no passengers on the two aircraft involved in the incident, adding that the airline has also revised its flight schedule to cater for its esteemed passengers on the 14 sectors the two aircraft were scheduled to service today.
Iwarah said that at the moment, everything is working according to plan, as the carrier’s engineers have already begun repair of the aircraft.
Meanwhile, the two airplanes have been grounded as a result of the incident.
