Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Multiple Levies At The Aviation Industry
Airline operators in the country have been lamenting over charges they consider unfriendly to not only their business interests but also the industry’s development. Aviation is a vital sector for general economic growth and development. A transportation system that is low in performance is to say the least a poster exhibit for a failed economy or an ailing one. Either way, the message that goes out to investors, or would-be investors, is a grim one. This observation covers the entire transportation industry which has been anything but effective. The railway sub-sector is not faring as well as it should and this is a system that is supposedly a very important strategic tool for development.
The aviation industry players claim that most of their members are unable to take care of their employees’ welfare because they are operating in an environment that is not conducive enough and which, therefore, poses barriers to their survival.
According to the operators, they are forced to contend with different charges by the different agencies that supervise the industry. And while they also have to contend with the rising cost of aviation fuel (Jet-A1), there is the issue of access to finance. The banks in Nigeria are apparently not interested in long-term loans with less than double-digit interest rates. Nigerian banks are more comfortable with short-term loans; even at that, the interest is exorbitant, ranging between 22 and 24 per cent. The aviation industry cannot survive on such high cost. Added to all these is the state of infrastructure, especially night infrastructure, with about 97per cent of the airports deficient. To further dampen the situation is the low cost of flights and the almost one directional passenger movement.
However, some of the agencies have denied the allegations, claiming that the airline operators are the ones that accumulated debt over the years, are reluctant to pay and now want to whip up sympathy. But we are of the opinion that if these multiple charges and taxes do really exist – even if for perceived genuine reasons, it is time for government to step in and review them in order to ensure harmony in the industry. A situation whereby operators fail to pay their dues timeously is not particularly healthy and here the blame rests squarely on the authorities for allowing such situation that could prove detrimental to both parties in the long run. Another point is that if operators who are major stakeholders in the industry are complaining about these charges, then surely they never bought in on them in the first place and this simply implies a lack of harmony of interests for the general good.
source: leadership.ng/opinions
Monday, July 27, 2015
Nigerian arrested for smoking on Arik Air London-Lagos flight
The Lagos Airport Police Command has arrested a Nigerian passenger, Lawal Oluwabusola, for smoking cigarette in an Arik Air flight on London to Lagos route.
In a statement on Sunday by Mr Livinus Chukwuma, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Airport Command in Lagos, said that Olubusola was arrested on Sunday upon landing in Nigeria.
He was apprehended at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The PPRO said the suspect’s action was not in consonance with the in-flight safety procedures.
“The suspect was smoking electronic cigarette in the lavatory which triggered off emergency alarm system in the aircraft causing confusion among passengers,” he said.
In 1992, the International Civil Aviation Organisation had passed a resolution mandating its 152-member countries to go on smoke-free by July 1, 1996.
Chukwuma said that cigarettes smoking, or anything else that produces smoke or flame, is prohibited during flight especially in commercial aircraft.
He said that the suspect has been arraigned in court on a two count charge in accordance with Section 2(1) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye law 2005, and Section 166(1) (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
In a related development, the command said it had also apprehended a man for stealing the sum of $1,400 belonging to an Air France bound passenger at MMIA.
Chukwuma said the passenger was taking some rest on a couch in Gabfol lounge at MMIA waiting to board the flight and forgot her purse containing the money.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Airport command, CP Frederick Lakanu, urged airport users to conform to the rules and regulations guiding the airports and aviation industry.
He said that ignorance is not an excuse.
Source: thenewsnigeria.com.ng
In a statement on Sunday by Mr Livinus Chukwuma, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Airport Command in Lagos, said that Olubusola was arrested on Sunday upon landing in Nigeria.
He was apprehended at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The PPRO said the suspect’s action was not in consonance with the in-flight safety procedures.
“The suspect was smoking electronic cigarette in the lavatory which triggered off emergency alarm system in the aircraft causing confusion among passengers,” he said.
In 1992, the International Civil Aviation Organisation had passed a resolution mandating its 152-member countries to go on smoke-free by July 1, 1996.
Chukwuma said that cigarettes smoking, or anything else that produces smoke or flame, is prohibited during flight especially in commercial aircraft.
He said that the suspect has been arraigned in court on a two count charge in accordance with Section 2(1) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye law 2005, and Section 166(1) (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
In a related development, the command said it had also apprehended a man for stealing the sum of $1,400 belonging to an Air France bound passenger at MMIA.
Chukwuma said the passenger was taking some rest on a couch in Gabfol lounge at MMIA waiting to board the flight and forgot her purse containing the money.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Airport command, CP Frederick Lakanu, urged airport users to conform to the rules and regulations guiding the airports and aviation industry.
He said that ignorance is not an excuse.
Source: thenewsnigeria.com.ng
Arik Air increases flight services on Abuja-Port Harcourt-Abuja route
Arik Air management said on Sunday it had increased flight frequency on the Abuja-Port Harcourt-Abuja route from two to three daily flights.
The new schedule, according to Ola Banji, the airline’s spokesman, provides guests with options of flying in the morning, mid-day or evening as the first flight from Abuja to Port Harcourt departs at 07:00am and arrives Port Harcourt at 08:00am, while the second flight departs at 11:00am and arrives at 12:00pm. The third flight leaves Abuja at 4:30pm and arrives Port Harcourt at 5:30 pm.
Arik Air’s Port Harcourt to Abuja service equally operates three times daily with the first flight departing at 08:40am to arrive at 09:40m, the second flight departs at 12:40pm to arrive Abuja at 1:40pm, while the third departs Port Harcourt at 6:10pm to arrive Abuja at 7:10pm.
This new schedule is inclusive of Saturdays and Sundays.
Commenting on the introduction of additional flight on the Abuja-Port Harcourt route, Chris Ndulue, Arik Air’s executive vice president/managing director, said “the decision to provide three daily flight services on the Abuja-Port Harcourt-Abuja route was taken in response to the yearning of our numerous guests who have always longed to have flexible travel times on that route.”
Arik Air is Nigeria and West Africa’s largest airline and operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
It operates a fleet of 28 state-of-the-art regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft including two Airbus A340-500, making the airline the first operator of the wide bodied aircraft in Africa.
Source: businessdayonline.com
Friday, July 24, 2015
Clamour for Scrapping of Aviation Ministry Intensifies
Aviation industry stakeholders have increased their clamouring for the scrapping
of the Ministry of Aviation, alleging that it is responsible for the many
problems and retrogression that has bedeviled the sector.
They argued that if aviation agencies are
empowered and full autonomy granted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA), they would do perform than when they are operating under a ministry that
breathes hard on their necks and does not have the vision to propel the industry
forward.
Industry operators said they are irked by
arbitrary designation of foreign airlines to different airports to the country,
lack of regimen for training and lack of plans to develop the industry despite
the fact that the ministry unveils and enforces the policy for industry growth.
They are also concerned that the Ministry has taken away the autonomy of NCAA,
which ideally should be free to regulate the sector in line with the
International Civil Aviation Organisation rules.
A former Director of Ground Operation in Nigeria
Airways, Captain Prokeme Porbeni alleged that the Ministry of Aviation has
abused the open sky policy Nigeria signed with other countries like the US to
open doors for foreign airlines to have multiple entry points in Nigeria.
“Foreign airlines have taken advantage of open
skies and aided and abetted by the Ministry officials. They do the Bilateral Air
Service Agreement to favour these foreign airlines at the detriment of the
country. So we now open our airspace to everybody thinking we are being liberal.
It is the opposite; we are killing our business.”
He said that there should be measure of
restriction in order to save local carriers and create employment for the
skilled indigenous manpower.
“Let me give you one example, many years ago we
had flight arrangement between Lagos-Calabar- Douala-Calabar- Lagos. Only the
Nigeria Airways could land in Calabar as an international airport. Our
competitors like Cameroun Air, Air Gabon would only come from Douala to Lagos.
What was the advantage? That was protectionism. We had targeted our Igbo
brothers who were selling electronics from the Far East into Nigeria. Rather
than bringing electronics before moving them to Aba by road, we gave them that
short cut and therefore our flights were always full.
“But Cameroon Airline would come to Lagos, so,
naturally the targeted passengers did not patronise Cameroon Airlines. That was
our prerogative but immediately that regime passed, we opened the skies so
everybody can land everywhere. Ideally foreign airline should not have access to
more than one or two entry points, but we are still smiling; we are happy about
it. So the liberalism must stop where our interest starts. Our interest in this
case is to empower our local industry operators to become strong enough, but the
way it is going it will never, ever be strong enough. As long as you play by
their rules they will always defeat you,” Porbeni said.
Also industry analyst, Chris Aligbe said the
Ministry of Aviation has contributed nothing to the development of the aviation
industry.
“I tell you the truth, looking at the Ministry of
Aviation over the years; I asked myself what substantially has the Ministry
contributed in the development of aviation? If you look at it in the last ten
years or since the democratic dispensation, what fundamentally has the Ministry
contributed to the growth of aviation? It is not the Ministry that developed the
Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA) Act.
When the country saw red with the air crashes and then the country experienced tremendous disaster from the crashes that came, the industry rose up to make sure that there was a formidable NCAA with great autonomy in the area of safety regulation and in all other areas where they should function. But the Ministry has contributed nothing and therefore it should be scrapped,” Aligbe posited.
When the country saw red with the air crashes and then the country experienced tremendous disaster from the crashes that came, the industry rose up to make sure that there was a formidable NCAA with great autonomy in the area of safety regulation and in all other areas where they should function. But the Ministry has contributed nothing and therefore it should be scrapped,” Aligbe posited.
Source: www.thisdaylive.com
Averting Apron Incidents
A fortnight ago Emirates flight due to leave the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to Dubai clipped its wing with the wing of Hak Air aircraft as it taxied to the runway.
It was laden with over
300 passengers.
As a result of incident, the flight was aborted
and the airline made frantic efforts to move the passengers to hotels. The bags
checked into the cargo haul of the aircraft had to be moved and the whole
process of flight to Dubai had to be terminated.
The passengers that had to connect their flights
to other destinations had to defer their schedule, those going to buy goods and
had made arrangement for delivery had to alert their business partners to make
adjustments. Indeed, many of the passengers would lose money; lose contacts and
undergo series of discomfort, including those who had perishable goods .
This incident happened because the marshaller
that directed the aircraft might have misinformed the pilot; it might also be
because of the poor illumination of the airport or that the Hak Air aircraft was
not properly parked. It might also be because the Emirates pilot did not follow
the directive of the marshaller. For that flight cancellation both the
passengers and the airline would lose money and operational time.
Similar incident happened last Friday when two
First Nation Airways flight clipped wings at the domestic terminal of the same
Lagos airport. The Marshaller was blamed. The passengers had to disembark and
the flight terminated. Some got refund of their money; others deferred their
flight, but all were inconvenienced. The airline lost money carrying out
repairs.
Few years ago Arik aircraft faced similar
incident at the Jos airport, the flight was aborted and the passengers had to
wait for another flight to airlift them. They waited for few hours but that was
because the airline had more aircraft in its fleet; otherwise the flight would
have been cancelled.
There have been similar incidents where vehicles
of food suppliers, baggage handlers and even fuel bowsers damaged aircraft fully
boarded with passengers and ready to take off. The flight had to be aborted and
the airline would spend several millions of Naira carrying out repairs.
It was the record of such many incidents that
gave rise few years ago to mandatory training and re-training of operators who
drive at the ramp and other ground staff at the airports. But the training seems
to have been discontinued, although the handling companies may be carrying out
the training of their staff as ground handling is one of their major jobs.
Angered by the incident at MMA2, the management
of First Nation Airways called the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
to subject the officials who direct aircraft and other ground staff, including
vehicles drivers who operate at the ramp for more training.
In a statement the airline said the incident was
avoidable if FAAN marshallers “had been diligent to avoid marshalling the
aircraft wrongly.”
“We urge the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN) to retrain the marshallers as we understand that the marshallers at MMA2
are deployed by FAAN under an MOU with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited,
the operator of MMA2, Ikeja. It is important to emphasise that at no time was
the safety of passengers at risk.
“The regulatory authorities will also need to
enhance oversight of the marshallers and their authorisation to arrest the
growing incidents of aircraft damage on ground in Nigeria which is embarrassing.
Besides the huge losses that Firstnation and other airlines suffer as a result
of avoidable ground incidents. You will recall that a similar incident involving
Emirate aircraft occurred only a couple of days ago,” the airline said.
The Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain
Ado Sanusi said the root cause of the problem may be attributed to bad marking
of the apron, adding that the marking could mislead the marshallers to make
mistakes.
“I don’t blame the marshallers; I blame the
system. What you should ask is who drew the aerolines?”
Sanusi also pointed out that the marshaller could
make mistakes by the confusion brought about by the adding of winglets to old
aircraft, known as classics, as if they are Next Generation (NG) aircraft. He
noted that while classics have different wing-span a winglet disorientates its
expanse and a marshaller may misunderstand it as NG which has different engine
size and different wing-span.
He also said that where they put ground equipment
should be clearly marked at the apron and this should be in the right place.
Frowning on the frequent incidents at the apron,
the former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the
President of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) said:
“Less than two weeks after the collision between emirates and Hak Air, another
collision between First Nation has just been reported. Who is in charge of
safety at the apron control in the terminals of the airport? What is the
approval capacity (in terms of aircraft that could be parked) in each apron? Who
is responsible or the appropriate authority for aircraft marshalling on these
aprons?”
Many people blamed FAAN for lack of adequate
training of the marshallers and others that work at the apron.
On the fate of passengers when aircraft is
damaged and flights have to be aborted, the Manager, Communication and Corporate
Services of Nigerian Aviation Handling Plc (nahco aviance), Tayo Ajakaiye said
the handling company has no commitment with the passengers but the airlines
does, so the airline takes care of the passengers.
He also said if the damage of the aircraft was
caused by ground handling operations the airline would discuss with the company
on how to foot cost of repairs.
But if such incidents are avoided the passengers
would not face the trauma of flight cancelation after they have meet all the
condition to travel.
Source: www.thisdaylive.com
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Heavy maintenance fees stifle domestic airlines
The dearth of aircraft repair facilities in Nigeria is biting harder as domestic airlines which typically spend about 40 percent of their operational funds on airplane maintenance abroad are hard pressed, with the naira’s sharp depreciation against the US dollar in recent months.
This follows the marked decline in the global price of crude oil, Nigeria’s main export, from over $100 to about $50 per barrel, on account of a glut in the market.
Following this development, domestic airlines expenditure on maintenance is shooting even higher.
Aviation experts and operators had called for the establishment of functional aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, otherwise known as ‘hangars’ over the years, to cut down on the cost and time of airplane repairs.
Experts say other operational costs are stifling the country’s domestic airlines, such that they can ill-afford to acquire hangars on their own .
“Unfortunately, only Arik and Aero have maintenance hangars in their bases in Nigeria. That is not to say they are in anyway different from others, because Arik Air is in partnership with Lufthansa, where they pay heavily. Also, Aero can’t go beyond C checks.
“Other airlines can only carry out ‘line checks’ at the airsides. Even though airlines are no longer required to pay duty on parts imported into Nigeria, the manufacturers directives on aircraft maintenance have to be strictly adhered to.
“This is because international safety standards have to be met, but Nigerian airlines find it very expensive”, an operator said.
Experts say that maintenance of airplanes here in the Nigeria would cost the airlines less than half of the present sums of ferrying them abroad for repairs in Europe, the United States, Asia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa, which are the usual repair destinations.
Some are also advocating for a Public Private Partnership on the project.
The Akwa Ibom State Government is on the verge of completing an aircraft maintenance facility at the Uyo Airport, but the Federal Government is yet to adopt or certify it.
Sheri Kyari, managing director of Finum Aviation, had at the Second Memorial Lecture in honour of Zakari Haruna, the pioneer director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) disclosed that private investors would have undertaken to build aircraft maintenance hangars in the country, but for the fear of policy inconsistency, which had made them hold back.
Kyari urged government to provide guarantee and assurances to investors, either by getting involved or providing a conducive environment for them.
Apart from linking various deadly crashes in the country to lack of adequate maintenance, aircraft engineers say the country may have lost over $170 billion in the last ten years to capital flight, as they say about ten domestic airlines could be losing N50 billion annually.
The carriers are groaning under the weight of industry charges ranging from 5 percent ticket sales; landing and parking fees; navigational charges; port charges and fuel surcharge among others.
They also pay heavily to source for Aviation fuel which is sometimes not readily available because local refineries are not working.
“They have in the last few years been burdened by debt of over N130 billion with a bail-out of over N200 billion from government, a greater part of their funds are expended on maintenance, then fuel.
“One eventually finds the airlines moving around the same spot and then going comatose after sometime because major issues are left unresolved.
“A deliberate plan by government in this direction to save the sector by establishing a national hangar that will comprise compartments where various aircraft types can be checked will go a long way in stabilising the sector”, Dave Adedoja, a travel analyst said.
Maintenance checks on aircraft range from A, B, C and D Checks, which are done periodically.
An aircraft is subject to C check every 15 to 18 months. This type of aircraft maintenance is a comprehensive inspection that covers hidden parts so that any damage or cracks in the internal parts of the aircraft can be detected.
The most detailed inspection is the D Check. This inspection is generally an overhaul.
Experts say it could cost between $1 million to $2 million to carry out a C-check on an aircraft, depending on the type.
They say comprehensive (C) Check on B737 classic and maintenance in Europe, the United States or in Egypt or Ethiopia, costs $1m.
At present, Nigerian airlines carry out C and D Checks abroad in millions of dollars, periodically.
Source:businessdayonline.com
Emirates adds new route to Mali capital Bamako
Emirates
will start flights to Bamako, the capital of Mali, from October 25 – its 28th
destination in Africa.
Bamako
will be linked to Emirates’ current four times a week service to Dakar,
Senegal, by an Airbus A340-300 in a three-class configuration.
Bamako has a population of about 2,3 million people, and is located in the south western part of Mali on the Niger River. Mali has four Unesco world heritage sites: the city of Timbuktu, the Old Towns of Djenne, the Tomb of Askia and the Cliff of Bandiagara.
Emirates said last year that it expected to add at least 10 new routes in Africa by 2025.
In
October it reached a deal with the Angolan government to manage the national carrier,
TAAG Linhas Aéreas De Angola, while in August, Emirates signed a partnership
with Nigeria’s Arik Air, penning up new routes throughout western Africa for
the carrier.
The
Dubai carrier recently announced a new route to Bologna, which will start from
November 3, Multan in Pakistan, which begins from August 1, and Mashhad in Iran
from September 1.
“Mali
has a growing economy and huge tourism potential, and we expect that linking
Bamako to our Dakar service will greatly boost both business and leisure travel
to and from Mali,” said Adil Al Ghaith, the senior vice president at Emirates.
Bamako has a population of about 2,3 million people, and is located in the south western part of Mali on the Niger River. Mali has four Unesco world heritage sites: the city of Timbuktu, the Old Towns of Djenne, the Tomb of Askia and the Cliff of Bandiagara.
Emirates said last year that it expected to add at least 10 new routes in Africa by 2025.
Source: www.thenational.ae
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Delta Air Frequent Fliers to pay more for upgrades
Getting a free flight or better seat on Delta Air Lines will cost program members more Sky Miles starting next year.
Last week, the carrier announced a major change to its frequent flier program, becoming the first of the big three U.S. carriers to adopt a “supply and demand” program over its current fixed miles system for upgrades and free flights, reports Skift. This means more popular routes may require more mileage points than shorter flights along less traveled flights.
JetBlue, Southwest and Virgin America already operate under a supply and demand award program.
"The number of miles needed (for a free flight) will change based on destination, demand and other considerations,” according to Delta, who confirmed that the changes will go into effect June 1, 2016.
Anthony Black, a spokesman for Delta, told NBC that “most award prices will stay the same, with a greater availability of awards at the lowest prices and new 7,500 and 10,000 mile one-way awards. Members can take advantage of lower prices immediately, while other price changes won't take affect for travel more than 10 months from now."
Included in the changes is a new “upgrade with miles” option that will be available for customers only at the time of booking travel.
Travel experts have already expressed concern that Delta’s lack of transparency when determining award flight value may hurt consumers in the long term.
"They [Delta] say some prices will be going up and others will stay the same, and this is based on a variety of factors," Gary Leff of the View from the Wing blog told NBC. "(But) they will not share which prices for what trips will go up, and which ones will stay the same, or how consumers will even know what to expect."
Delta says that no airline today tells you exactly when fares will change or increase in price and that they are giving Sky Miles members plenty of notices to prepare.
Black reiterated to NBC, “The award price for some trips will change based on a variety of factors; just like they do today for revenue tickets."
Source:www.foxnews.com
British Airways steward dies after catching malaria following flight to Ghana
A British Airways stewardess has died after catching malaria
while working on a long-haul flight from Heathrow to the Ghanaian capital of
Accra.
The unnamed woman is understood to have been staying at a
hotel in Accra when she began showing symptoms of the deadly disease.
Spread by mosquitoes, the parasite attacks the liver and red
blood cells and can be fatal if it is not treated quickly. Symptoms include a
fever, sweats and chills, a headache, vomiting, muscle pains and diarrhoea. The
signs begin showing between seven and 18 days after a person is infected.
Most fatalities in the UK are caused by the Plasmodium
falciparum species of the parasite, which is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa.
The airline has launched an internal investigation into how
the woman caught the disease, The Mirror reported.
BA told The Independent: "We
were deeply saddened to hear of the death of our colleague. Our thoughts are
with her friends and family at this difficult time."
She added that all BA staff are given “top strength
repellent”, access to anti-malarial tablets and medical advice before flying to
at-risk countries.
The firm also checks hotels and transportation to minimise
the chance of contact with mosquitoes, she added.
British Airways employees around 40,000 people, most of whom
work in the UK, and flies around 35million passengers around the world each
year.
The incident comes six years after a BA steward died after
catching the most deadly strain of malaria after also working on a flight from
Heathrow to Ghana.
Source:www.independent.co.uk
Virgin Atlantic to Cut 500 Support, Managerial Jobs
 |
| Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger, center; Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Thomas Naughton, left; and Sir Richard Branson, founder and president of Virgin Atlantic Airways, at a news conference on June 11 about the launch of Virgin Atlantic services between Detroit and London. Photo: Associated Press |
“To truly position Virgin Atlantic for long-term and sustained success, we need to be a more efficient and agile organization that has the ability to invest even more in the areas that make Virgin Atlantic’s customer experience unique,” Chief Executive Craig Kreeger said.
Virgin Atlantic in March said that it made a £14.4 million ($23 million) profit before tax and one-time items in 2014 and ended a three-year period of losses. The carrier had a £51 million loss in 2013 when it set the goal of returning to profit. Virgin Atlantic sales were little changed last year at £2.9 billion.
source: www.wsj.com
Aero’s tyre bursts after take-off, 141 on board
Tragedy was on Tuesday afternoon averted in Lagos as an Aero Contractors’ plane made an air return shortly after takeoff from the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA 2). Reason: The plane, with 141 persons on board, suffered a burst tyre.
The incident was confirmed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, disclosed that the aircraft which took off at 3pm from Lagos to Abuja, developed technical problem.
It described the air return as “normal procedure.”
On return to the international wing of the MMIA, some of the passengers were transferred to another Aero aircraft while the others demanded a refund of their fares.
Another group of the passengers rescheduled their flight for Wednesday.
Ndubuoke disclosed that the NCAA would further examine what actually happened during the flight but assured the public of the agency’s commitment to safety and security.
Aero Contractors, in a separate press statement, said that the tyre burst occurred just as the airplane was lifting off.
The company said that the pilot did the right thing by not trying to abort the take-off. He controlled the plane into the air and followed all trained procedures, adding that the pilot brought the plane back to a safe landing.
“At no time during all of these were the passengers lives at any risk,” it added.
Source: dailytimes.com.ng
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