An Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest domestic carrier, has been grounded at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MMA1) following a ground collision with a baggage handling vehicle, the airline said on Wednesday.
The incident has triggered widespread disruptions across the carrier’s flight schedule.
The Incident
According to a statement released by Air Peace management, the collision occurred shortly after the arrival of Flight P47427 from Kano.
All passengers had already safely disembarked when a baggage conveyor belt vehicle, owned and operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), crashed into the aircraft’s engine.
The airline confirmed the impact was severe enough to render the wet-leased Airbus A320 “totally unserviceable.”
“The ground handling equipment belonging to and operated by NAHCO tore into the aircraft,” the airline statement said. “This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days.”
Operational Impact and Delays
Air Peace warned passengers to prepare for immediate schedule adjustments as the airline manages the sudden loss of capacity.
- Flight Schedule Changes: Several scheduled services will experience delays, and some flights face potential cancellation.
- Mitigation Strategy: The airline’s operational teams are actively adjusting its remaining fleet to cover the deficit and minimize passenger inconvenience.
- Customer Support: Affected travelers are being offered alternative flight options and assistance through the carrier’s customer service channels.
Investigation Launched
Air Peace emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority. The airline is currently cooperating with aviation regulatory authorities and NAHCO management to investigate the root cause of the tarmac accident.
NAHCO, one of Nigeria’s primary ground handling service providers, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the vehicle operator or the circumstances leading to the crash.
