Amild drama unfolded yesterday at the Bauchi Airport when passengers
used ladder to disembark from a chartered aircraft belonging to
Nigeria’s oldest carrier: Aero Airlines.
It was learnt that the aircraft had problems with unserviceable
equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers
from Abuja Airport.
The use of ladder to disembark passengers a source hinted is against
standard aviation practices as prescribed by the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on passenger facilitation.
According to the airline, at the time the 34 passengers were boarding
the chartered flight at the Abuja Airport, the air stairs was
functional.
The airline confirmed the incident in statement by SY & T, media
consultant to the Aero Contractors.
It explained “A special charter
flight operated by Aero to Bauchi had problems with unserviceable
equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers
from Abuja. Consequently against the airline’s wish and operation safety
guideline, the passengers used a ladder to disembark.”
“Aero wishes to state that it took adequate and safety measures for
this operation, including the airport’s ground staff crew to handle the
air stairs equipment in Bauchi, unfortunately it became unserviceable at
the point of disembarkation.
“Although the airline crew tried to calm down the passengers to wait
while the equipment was being fixed, the passengers insisted on their
own volition to disembark against all safety protocol of the airline”,
the airline stated in the statement
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