According to Sahara reporters, a security threat occurred at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos on Thursday night as suspected burglars attacked Air Peace aircraft at the tarmac while taxiing to take off to Abuja.
The report has it that the aircraft, a Boeing 737 was attacked at 7:35 pm by yet to be identified hoodlums on the domestic runway of the airport.
An eyewitness told Sahara reporters that suspected burglars opened the cargo hold of Air Peace Flight 7138 taxiing for departure on Runway 18R (A1) of the Lagos Airport.Mr. Chris Iwarah, the Communications Manager, Air Peace, was contacted and he confirmed the incident and a passenger aboard the aircraft also tweeted about the incident.
According to the Management of the Airline, the security breach led to delay in the departure of the aircraft for close to 2 hours as security operatives attached to the airport carried out a comprehensive search on the airplane before being allowed to depart the airport.
The Corporate Communications Manager of Air Peace, Iwarah said:
“We are sincerely grateful to all our wonderful guests on board Flight 7138 for their support, patience and cooperation throughout the precautionary security checks conducted by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) squad, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) and our security team after suspected thieves opened the cargo hold of our aircraft holding for departure on Runway 18R (A1) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at about 7.35pm on Thursday, February 08, 2018.
“Pilot-in-Command, Capt. Adesola Arasi had to contact control tower when he was alerted by the light that came on in the cockpit suggesting that the cargo hold was opened for about 15 seconds and immediately shut.
“In line with our high security standards and the huge value we place on the lives of our guests and crew, Capt. Arasi insisted on having EOD squad check Flight APK 7138 before takeoff to be doubly sure nothing was deposited in the cargo hold by the suspected thieves to endanger the lives of our guests and crew.
“Our guests, who were fully briefed of the development by the pilot-in-command, were advised to disembark from the aircraft and board an Air Peace bus while the joint security operation by EOD, FAAN AVSEC and our security team lasted. The Lagos-Abuja flight was cleared by the security experts after an exhaustive screening of the aircraft lasting about 30 minutes.
“The flight eventually took off at 9.30pm and safely landed in Abuja at about 10.23pm. Our satisfied guests commended the professionalism of Capt. Arasi and his team as well as the high safety standards of Air Peace.”
Iwarah assured that the airline would continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its guests, crew and equipment.
Credit: saharareporters.com
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