FG Probes Use Of Ladder By Aero Contractors Airline For Passengers At Bauchi Airport

Aero ContractorsThe federal government has ordered an immediate probe into the use of an unauthorized equipment by Aero Contractors Airlines at the conclusion of a charter flight to Bauchi over the weekend.

A photo, which went viral on Saturday, showed the airport management using a ladder to disembark 34 passengers from the Aero Contractors aircraft in Bauchi.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who directed that an investigation be launched into the embarrassing episode, said it was inconsistent with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

A statement by spokesman of the aviation ministry last night said the investigation will determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to developing and implementing measures that will prevent a reoccurrence of the unsafe and unacceptable procedure that exposed passengers to high risk of serious injury.

The minister warned that if the airline is found culpable, the full weight of sanctions within extant laws and regulations, would be applied on it.

Sen. Sirika also assured the traveling public that the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), will ensure strict adherence to the NCARs as well as ICAO SARPs by all operators.