Another Plane Crash Scare as 2 Planes Collide

 

This many incidents just shows the level of incompetence of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, so many people can't even think of travelling by air because of its uncertainty, there must be a change unless something worse would occur though we don't hope for that.

 

There was a minor accident Friday  at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos involving a Turkish Airline aircraft and a Max Air plane. The Turkish Airline plane wings collided with that of Max Air plane which had brought in Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

 

Airport sources said the Turkish Airplane had landed safely but was taxing to stop at the apron, when its wing collided with that of Max Air.

The collision resulted in minor damages to both airplanes  and they have been  taken away for repairs.

 

When contacted , Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, spokesman for Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident. He  however said  damages to the aircraft belonging to both airlines are minor and that both planes have been taken away for repairs.

 

It will be recalled that there was a similar incident last year in Jos, Plateau State when an Arik plane wings brushed an Airforce jet parked at the apron when the plane was taxing to stop . There was no casualty in the incident but only damages to both planes.

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Boy beats aviation security, found in aircraft wheel

Arik Air has expressed shock over how a teenager at the Benin Airport manage to beat aviation security checks at the city Airport to stowaway into the main wheel of its aircraft.

 The airline said it was becoming increasingly concerned about incessant security lapses at the nation’s airports It urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) to immediately address the situation.

 The airline’s spokesman Mr Banjo Ola, said in a statement :” The pilot of Arik Air flight W3 544, departing Benin Airport for Lagos at 9.00am today 24thAugust, 2013 reported to the control tower the presence of a strange boy in the bush about 200 – 300 meters at the end of runway 23.

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Aviation ministry denies Arik claim

 The ministry of aviation has denied allegations made by Arik Air that the Minister, Stella Adaeze Oduah demanded a 5 percent equity holding in Arik Airlines, saying the so-called equity demand was unfounded and diversionary.

It would be recalled that Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other unions operating in the aviation sector had, on Thursday, grounded the operation of the airline earlier in the week, explaining the action was to get Arik and other debtor airlines to pay their debts.

But, Arik Air, in a statement, same day, announced the suspension of its flight operations due to what it described as the “persistent hostility of the Ministry of Aviation, and FAAN management, which has culminated in the use of FAAN staff to stop Arik Air operations and lock in checked-in passengers in Lagos”.

The airline insisted that the issue “bothers on personal interests, and not payment of bills; since FAAN has been collecting their charges in advance since 18 months now” alleging further that the ministry had demanded a 5 per cent equity in its commpany.

Joe Obi, the Special Adviser on Media attached to the Aviation Minister, in statement made available to Daily Times on Friday, described the allegation as 'absurd, malicious and ultimately laughable'.

Insisting that the sole intent of this release is to put the records straight, the statement said: “The first impulse is to totally ignore this groundless falsehood.

“The 5 percent equity story is without any foundation whatsoever. It is absurd, malicious and ultimately laughable. The Honourable Minister of Aviation could not have contemplated acquiring a stake in any airline, let alone Arik Air that is groaning from a crippling N85.4 billion debt overhang.

“The time is ripe for Arik Air to change its business module that ‘thrives’ on unprecedented accumulation of debts and liabilities. The futile attempt to impugn the integrity of the Aviation

“Minister by inferring a conflict of interest against her is at best diversionary. It should be obvious to the management of Arik Air that blackmail is not a panacea for a floundering enterprise.

The Minister has asked her lawyers to seek legal redress for this malicious allegation by Arik Air.

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Air Nigeria Shuts Down in Latest Aviation Setback

International carrier, Air Nigeria, said it would terminate its operations yesterday due to "staff disloyalty and environmental challenges.

The Privately-owned Air Nigeria was part of Richard Branson's Virgin fleet until he pulled out in 2010, selling his minority stake. It operated flights across West Africa and London. It is now shutting down operations and sacking over 500 staff in a move that has prompted union protests over alleged unfair dismissal and unpaid salaries.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NACA) suspended Air Nigeria in June due to financial concerns, although some flights were allowed to continue. Several Nigeria airlines have folded in recent years due to lack of finance or poor safety.

"Corporations are like individuals, who can naturally get sick, and the usual thing to do is to admit them to hospitals, either for corporate surgery or for treatment, as the case may be," a statement from the company's chairman, Jimoh Ibrahim, said.

Ibrahim said Air Nigeria would close operations for at least a year but he hoped to resurrect the airline in the future. Dana Air flight 992, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, crashed into an apartment block in a populated Lagos suburb in June, killing 153 people onboard and 10 others on the ground. Air crashes are relatively common in Africa's most populous nation, although Air

Nigeria was never involved. The aviation ministry cleared Dana to fly again last week even though the accident bureau has not concluded its investigation into the crash.

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