Air Peace flight disrupted after conveyor belt hits aircraft

A recent incident at a Nigerian airport has disrupted the operations of Air Peace after a ground‑handler’s conveyor belt struck one of its aircraft. The collision, which occurred on Friday as passengers were preparing to depart on a Lagos‑Accra flight, damaged the aircraft’s engine cover and forced the airline to deboard the passengers, according to Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The affected aircraft was scheduled to operate nine flight sectors, and its removal from service will disrupt all passengers booked on those subsequent flights. Achimugu warned that the airline will likely face significant challenges, including refund issues, compensation claims, and damage to its reputation, even though the incident was not its fault. Repair costs are expected to be substantial, potentially requiring large sums of foreign currency. This is not an isolated event for Air Peace, which has previously dealt with technical problems such as a bird strike that cost over $3 million to repair.

The NCAA spokesman emphasized the need for better training of ground‑handling personnel to prevent similar incidents, noting the serious reputational, financial, and technical consequences they can cause for airlines. He suggested that the Authority may consider strengthening regulations to impose heavier sanctions on service providers responsible for such events. Achimugu stressed that airlines should not be held accountable for situations beyond their control and that passengers should be informed honestly about the reasons for disruptions.

As the airline works to resolve the issue, passengers scheduled to fly on the affected aircraft may experience delays or cancellations. The NCAA has urged passengers to be understanding and is exploring options to mitigate the impact. With standby aircraft already deployed to cover other similar situations, finding a solution will be challenging. The incident underscores the complexities faced by the aviation industry and the need for all stakeholders to collaborate in preventing such events while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency.