NAN – Tragedy was averted on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) in Lagos following a ground collision of two aircraft belonging to FirstNation Airways.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a similar incident had occurred at the airport on July 6, following the collision of two aircraft belonging to Emirates and Hak Air.
NAN gathered that Friday’s incident which happened at about mid-day involved two Airbus 330 conveying not fewer than 250 passengers.
The two aircraft had their bodies partially damaged as a result of the collision.
A source at the airport told NAN that one of the aircraft was taxiing from the runway to MMA2, to disengage passengers while the other aircraft was preparing to take off to Port-Harcourt Airport from the same terminal.
The source alleged that the pilot may have been misdirected by the marshals who directed the pilot to taxi to the wrong part of the apron.
According to the source, the Port-Harcourt bound aircraft was parked at Gate 4 while the arriving aircraft was bound for the Gate 3 of the terminal.
However, the source claimed that the marshals misdirected the arriving aircraft to the same Gate as the parked aircraft which led to the two wings brushing each other.
Following the incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), immediately, grounded both aircraft while passengers wereasked to disembark by the airline.
NAN further gathered that the refunds of tickets were made to passengers on the Port-Harcourt bound aircraft by the airline.
The NCAA also confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Fan Ndubuoke.
Ndubuoke said no passenger was hurt and that the incident had been referred to the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) for further investigation.
He also reiterated NCAA’s commitment to safety and security of passengers.
