Operations of an Air Peace aircraft were disrupted after a ground handler’s conveyor belt struck and damaged the plane’s engine cover during ground operations, forcing passengers to disembark and triggering delays across several flight routes.
The incident was confirmed on Friday by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, who said the aircraft was rendered unsafe to continue scheduled operations.
According to Achimugu, the conveyor belt made contact with the engine cowling while passengers were already on board, leading to the grounding of the aircraft. The plane had been scheduled to operate nine flight sectors, meaning all passengers booked on those routes were immediately affected.
“All passengers waiting for its operations are automatically disrupted, and the airline will face backlash, refund issues, and compensation obligations for a situation that was not its fault,” Achimugu said. He added that Air Peace would also have to spend “large sums of foreign currency” to repair the damage caused by a third-party service provider.
The NCAA spokesperson disclosed that the affected aircraft is one of Air Peace’s newly acquired Embraer E2 jets, which had been fully booked until January 15, 2026. As a result, he noted that passengers scheduled on its routes would experience delays or cancellations.
Achimugu explained that incidents caused by ground handlers or airport service providers are rarely disclosed publicly, as airlines often attribute delays to “technical” or “operational” reasons. This, he said, leaves airlines to absorb passenger frustration and regulatory penalties under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, even when the fault lies elsewhere.
He cited previous disruptions suffered by Air Peace, including a bird strike that reportedly cost the airline over $3 million to fix and took nearly a month to resolve due to delays in obtaining replacement parts from the manufacturer.
Describing the incident as part of a recurring challenge in the aviation sector, Achimugu called for stricter regulation of ground handling companies and their personnel.
“We need to start naming and shaming poorly trained ground handling staff whose inefficiency causes reputational, financial, and technical damage to airlines,” he said, adding that the NCAA is considering tougher sanctions for service providers responsible for such incidents.
He stressed that airlines should not be held accountable for disruptions caused by third-party operators and urged greater transparency so passengers can be accurately informed about the true causes of flight delays.
Addressing affected passengers, Achimugu appealed for understanding, noting that although Air Peace maintains two standby aircraft, both had already been deployed to cover other operational challenges. He added that even if available, the backup aircraft have lower seating capacity than the grounded Embraer E2.
Achimugu described conveyor belt accidents as “behind-the-scenes incidents” that unfairly make airlines appear culpable, stressing the need to educate the public and improve transparency within the aviation industry.
Expressing sympathy for domestic airlines, he said, “To Air Peace and indeed all local operators, I empathise with you in moments like this.”
He also acknowledged recent improvements in foreign exchange access for airlines, crediting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but noted that such gains do not offset the high cost of aircraft repairs or revenue losses.
He concluded by expressing optimism for the aviation sector, stating, “May Nigeria succeed.”
