Aviation: NAHCO Vehicle Damages Air Peace Aircraft, Renewing Ground Handling Safety Concerns
By Correspondent
LAGOS — Air Peace has announced operational disruptions after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft was severely damaged in a ground handling incident at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (MM1) in Lagos, an accident the airline attributed to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the airline said a NAHCO baggage conveyor belt vehicle struck the engine of the aircraft shortly after passengers had safely disembarked from Flight P47427, which arrived from Kano.
According to Air Peace, the impact rendered the aircraft “totally unserviceable,” forcing the carrier to make fleet adjustments that are expected to cause delays and possible cancellations across its domestic network.
“This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days. Consequently, several scheduled services will experience delays, while some may regrettably be cancelled as we work to mitigate the disruption through fleet adjustments,” the airline said.
Air Peace apologised to affected passengers, saying its operations and customer service teams were working to minimise the disruption by arranging alternative travel options and providing necessary assistance.
The airline also said it was collaborating with the ground handling company and relevant aviation authorities to investigate the incident and prevent a recurrence.
“At Air Peace, the safety of our passengers, crew and equipment remains our highest priority. We are working closely with the relevant ground handling company and aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence,” the statement added.
Ground handling companies are responsible for services such as baggage handling, aircraft loading and the operation of specialised equipment around aircraft.
Incidents involving ground support vehicles can lead to costly repairs, operational disruptions and schedule changes, particularly when aircraft engines are damaged.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about safety during aircraft ground operations at Nigeria’s busiest airport. It comes months after another Air Peace aircraft was damaged by ground handling equipment at the Lagos airport in December 2025, prompting calls for stricter adherence to airside safety procedures.
NAHCO had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of filing this report.
