Bauchi Airport incident has nothing to do with us-FAAN

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN has made public that the unacceptable incidence at the Bauchi Airport is not its making. According to the statement made available through the agency’s spokesman, Yakubu Dati  “ we wish to clarify that Aero Contractors’ use of unauthorized equipment (ladder) to disembark its passengers does not have anything to do with FAAN.”

Dati explained further that the Bauchi Airport is managed by the Bauchi State Government and that FAAN only provides statutory services at the airport such as aircraft marshalling, aviation security services and fire cover. The Authority does not provide handling services for Aero Contractors and therefore does not understand why it should be held responsible for non-provision of appropriate equipment for passenger disembarkation.

Meanwhile, the Accountable Manager of Aerocontractors, Captain Russell B. Lee Foon explained that all proper arrangements were made including the assurance of the airstairs  before they embarked on the charter operation of the aircraft Boeing 737-500 to the Bauchi Airport.

 Briefing aviation correspondents at their Headquaters on the issue Russell said:  “On Thursday 17th December 2015, a charter was booked and confirmed from Abuja to Bauchi on a Boeing 737 -500 series aircraft. The charter was booked by a group of young people, part of a wedding party, attending this important event in Bauchi.

On Friday 18th December 2015, confirmed arrangements were made by our Head of Ground Operations, Mr. Peter Omata for the handling of the flight through the airport manager of Bauchi, Mr. Abubakar. He confirmed on many occasions the availability of the airstairs and cost. The aircraft to be used for the flight was 5N-BLG, a Boeing 737-500 series aircraft. This aircraft was positioned into Abuja on the evening of December 18th 2015.

On Saturday 19th December 2015, schedule time of departure for Bauchi was 09:00. Passengers arrived late at the airport after departure time and this delayed the flight’s departure. The flight was under the command of Captain Nikcevic VLADO.”