NCAA, Air Peace bicker over ‘burgled’ aircraft
- Regulator: Your allegation unproven
- Airline: Your action, a cover-up
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Air Peace yesterday engaged in war of words over allegation that the rear cargo hold of the airline’s Flight 7138 holding for departure on Runway 18R of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos was opened by thieves on February 8.
The aviation regulatory body had, in a statement by its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, described the airline’s allegation as ‘unfounded’.
But Air Peace fired back, stating that the NCAA’s position lacks basis. Air Peace had, last Thursday, disclosed that the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of Flight No. APK 7138 with Aircraft No. 5NBUJ alerted the Lagos control tower that the aircraft’s cargo compartment had been opened by thieves. According to the pilot, he noticed that the cargo compartment light came up for 15 seconds and went off.
This means someone has opened the compartment’s door. The air traffic controller on duty confirmed receiving the report at about 1933hrs (1833GMT). However, the NCAA stated that their investigation proved that the burglary incident never occurred after it reviewed all the reports from the relevant agencies concerning the incident.
Adurogboye stated that in line with Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs), aviation security personnel were at the holding point of Runway 18R monitoring the departure/ take off of both Air Peace and Arik Air aircraft.
The PIC alarm, he noted, triggered an immediate response, adding that the escort team overtook the Arik aircraft for a more proximate field look and access to the Air Peace aircraft.
His words: “On full speed, with the full lights on, no person(s) was found within the vicinity of the aircraft. Importantly, the Arik aircraft, which was on queue immediately after the Air Peace aircraft, was similarly put on observation at this point”.
“The Arik Air aircraft also had its full complement of lights on towards the Air Peace aircraft having been aware of his counterpart’s conversation with the tower. With benefit of this full view, neither movement nor any sign of person(s) was sighted around the aircraft.
“At D45, the Airport Chief Security called the NPF-EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) team who reported with their equipment at about 2026hrs. Passengers were disembarked at 2028hrs.
The EOD team, joined by FAAN’s Aviation Security and Air Peace security, conducted a search on the cargo compartment and the passenger cabin of the aircraft.” He noted that the search was completed at about 2055hrs and the aircraft was declared safe by the EOD Team leader and the flight departed and landed safely at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Against this background, the NCAA came to the conclusion that the Runway 18R burglary report is unproven, largely unsubstantiated and, therefore, should be discountenanced,” Adurogboye said.
In a swift reaction, the airline said it remains unwilling to be drawn into unnecessary controversy with agencies that ought to have been jolted into action from their slumber by patriotic information as they did on the incident. Air Peace described the NCAA’s report on the alleged burglary as “both a lazy and shoddy job at cover-up.”
Spokesman for Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, in a statement made available to Woleshadarenews, said the conclusion by NCAA suggesting that “our information on the incident was a false alarm absolutely lacks a basis.”
“From the report, it is clear that the only reason for NCAA’s dismissal of the very serious security breach was the claim that when an aircraft of another airline beamed its lights after our pilot alerted the control tower to the incident, the suspected thieves were not seen.
“We need to reiterate that our pilot’s call to control tower was made after the rear cargo hold of our aircraft was opened and shut after 15 seconds. We, therefore, begin to wonder whether NCAA expected the suspected thieves to be there waiting after opening and shutting the cargo hold within a space of 15 seconds,” Iwarah said. The airline advised NCAA and other agencies to treat complaints of security breach at airports with the seriousness they deserve rather than “the culture of baseless denial and attempt at cover-up.”
“As members of the public may recall, similar incidents reported recently were also dismissed without a basis,” the airline stated. It will be recalled that on December 12, 2017, a Vistajet jet with registration number 9H-VFA operated by Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) Ltd. was robbed on the runway 18R of the airport by bandits when taxiing to the hangar of EAN.
The jet was arriving from Istanbul between 2110- 2130hrs when the robbery took place after landing in Lagos. The pilot of the jet, Captain Emma Heering, discovered that the rear door of the aircraft was opened while taxiing to the hangar of EAN after which it was discovered that a big black bag belonging to the air hostess, Francesca Louis, was missing from the jet.
Also, a private jet carrying two top Nigerian musical artists, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka “Wizkid” and Tiwa Savage from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was robbed on December 26, 2017 while taxiing on Murtala Muhammed airport’s runway 18L.
The pilot, Captain Cloud Cote, was said to have noticed the cargo door had been opened by burglars and promptly notified the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security.
The burglars had disappeared before FAAN officials could make it to the point where the attack took place. Upon arrival at Quits Aviation Centre, a private jet hangar, the pilot discovered that two bags belonging to Savage and Wizkid had been stolen by the airport bandits.
However, in a statement, FAAN denied that the incident took place. “It is not possible for anyone to burgle an aircraft in motion. Furthermore, because aircraft are highly technical machines, it is practically impossible for anyone who does not have the requisite training and competence to operate or tamper with the baggage compartment,” FAAN stated.
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