FG orders probe of unauthorised use of equipment by Aero Contractors
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika on Sunday directed immediate investigation into the use of unauthorized equipment by Aero Contractors Airlines charter flight to Bauchi Airport on Saturday.
The Minister order is contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs Unit of the ministry of Aviation, Mr James Odaudu on Sunday in Abuja.
According to the statement, several reports received by the minister indicated that the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the airport.
The minister said, the act is inconsistent with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).
Senator Sirika stated further that, the outcome of their investigation will determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
According to him, the investigation was with a view to developing and implementing measures that would prevent a recurrence of the unsafe and unacceptable procedure that exposed passengers to high risk.
The minister also said that if the airline was found culpable, the full weight of sanctions within extant laws and regulations would be applied on it.
The statement also reads: “The Honourable Minister assures the travelling public that the Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), will ensure strict adherence to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations as well as ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices by all operators.
“Sirika further states that the ministry will not shirk in its responsibility to ensure a safe and secure air transport services which he views as sacrosanct”.