The Federal Government is set to probe the circumstance surrounding the disembarking of passengers on ladder from Aero Contractors flight in Bauchi Airport on Saturday. The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika yesterday directed an immediate investigation of the issue.
This was disclosed yesterday by Mr James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry. According to him; “Several reports received by the Minister have indicated the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the Bauchi airport on Saturday December 19th 2015.
‘’The act is inconsistent with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR and International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPS. “The investigation will determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to developing and implementing measures that will prevent a re-occurrence of the unsafe and unacceptable procedure that exposed passengers to high risk of serious injury.
“He reiterated that if the airline is found culpable, the full weight of sanctions within extant laws and regulations would be applied.” Odaudu added that the Minister assures the travelling public that the Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, will ensure strict adherence to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations as well as ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices by all operators.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company has exonerated its of any involvement in the shameful show in Bauchi. The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Nahco aviance, yesterday said it was not responsible for the ordeals of Aero contractors at Bauchi airport as it was not the ground handler that was supposed to provide the air stairs for boarding and disembarking passengers.
Although, Aero in its explanation did not mention NAHCO or any ground handling company, but Mr Tayo Ajakaye, NAHCO spokesperson, said it was expedient to clarify insinuations and belief in some quarters that NAHCO was supposed to have provided the equipment.
He added that NAHCO does not operate at Bauchi airport.
