Air Peace has confirmed that one of its Airbus A320 aircraft was damaged after a baggage conveyor belt vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) crashed into its engine at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MMA1) in Lagos, disrupting the airline’s operations.
The incident occurred shortly after Flight P47427 arrived from Kano and passengers had safely disembarked. According to the airline, the impact left the aircraft’s engine extensively damaged, rendering the plane completely unserviceable.
The airline said the aircraft had been scheduled to operate several flights across its network, warning that the incident would result in delays and possible cancellations as it adjusts its fleet to minimise disruptions.
“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,” Air Peace stated.
The airline apologised to passengers whose travel plans may be affected, assuring them that alternative arrangements were being explored.
“We sincerely apologise to our esteemed passengers whose travel plans may be affected by this unforeseen ground handling incident. Our operational and customer service teams are actively working to minimise the inconvenience by providing available alternatives and ensuring that affected passengers receive the necessary assistance.”
Air Peace reaffirmed that safety remains its top priority and disclosed that it had commenced an investigation alongside the relevant aviation authorities and the ground handling company.
“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.”
While NAHCO declined to issue an official statement on the incident, a source familiar with the matter revealed that the collision occurred after the operator of the baggage conveyor belt vehicle reportedly suffered a medical emergency while on duty.
According to the source, the employee suddenly collapsed while operating the equipment, causing the vehicle to move uncontrollably into the parked 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 told Vanguard.
The source added that the employee was immediately rushed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The incident has forced Air Peace to revise its flight schedule as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
