Fidelia Okafor

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA and the management of Air Peace Airlines, recently, traded words over the circumstances which led an Enugu bound aircraft, to return to Lagos, as its destination airport was shut.

Officials of Air Peace Airline had told the members of the Aviation Committee that on December 22, 2016, a 737 aircraft operated by the airline was forced to return to Lagos  about 11.30p.m., while enroute Enugu International Airport, as the Tower was closed, though the airline had applied for four hours extension from the closing hour of 7p.m.

Appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Air Peace Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide said that the airline had first applied for three hours extension and then applied for an extra hour, to allow the inbound flight land, discharge its passengers and then depart for Abuja.

Olajide explained that while the extension was till 11p.m., the aircraft started up at the domestic airport in Lagos at 10.45p.m., and taxied to the international airport before taking off at 11.15p.m.

The committee heard that the Enugu airport tower however, closed at 11.08p.m., even though the inbound aircraft had started up in Lagos.

“The aircraft was already enroute when the tower was threatening to close. Our Manager at Enugu appealed to them, even followed them to the car park, but they told her unless we get permission from their boss. At that point, we had to communicate to the crew to return to Lagos,” she said.

Olajide added that the airlines experienced several challenges during the festive season, particularly harmattan haze and unavailability of aviation fuel resulting in several delays.

The Director General of NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, however, said that the airline had the responsibility to ensure it operated within the extended hours granted.