The Accountable Manager/Acting Managing Director of Aero Contractors of Nigeria, Captain Russell B. Lee Foon at a briefing in Lagos today stated that the result of the investigation arising from the use of ladder to disembark from its aircraft at Bauchi International Airport could lead to changes in its operational procedures adding that the decision to perform any further charters into Bauchi is suspended on B737 equipment but would consider charters into Bauchi on Q400 or Dash 8-300 aircraft, a smaller airplane.
According to him the Crew on board the flight were Captain Nikcevic Vlado, First Officer Adeoye Ajibola, Purser, Joy Lawson, Cabin Crew, Christie Anne Bassey, Arit Tom Aton, flight dispatcher, Eunice Kantiok and prior to leaving Abuja, the Flight dispatcher contacted the airport manager to advise that the aircraft was taxing out and he confirmed that they were ready to receive the flight.
He noted that any future charters to destinations that are not areas of scheduled commercial flight operations must have at least one permanent Ground Handling company on ground before “we will consider”.
The briefing came amid probe by the Federal Government to unravel the circumstances surrounding what has been termed a national embarrassment.
The airline chief explained that on November 17th, 2015, a charter was booked and confirmed from Abuja to Bauchi on a Boeing 737 -500 series aircraft, adding that the charter was booked by a group of young people, part of a wedding party, attending this important event in Bauchi.
His words, “On November 18th, 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 air stairs 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 November 18th 2015.”
He gave a graphic picture of what happened, saying that after parking the captain reports that they waited for up to 10 minutes for the stairs to be brought to the aircraft but no assistance or stairs came to the aircraft, stressing that the Captain reported that he informed the passengers of the situation as they were beginning to get agitated.
His words, “What was not known to the crew at the beginning of the flight was that the groom of the wedding was on board the flight. The wedding was to be started in another 20 minutes. At 10:57 the crew called the controller to inquire as to why there was no one to position the stairs to the aircraft and he was told then that the stairs had a just broken down and that the fire services are making provisions to sort it out.”
He stated that after waiting for another five to seven minutes the passengers became furious as they were now getting very late for the wedding ceremony, leading the captain to the cabin and explained to them that he may have to take them back to Abuja as they cannot disembark due lack of stairs.
Lee Foon lamented that the group insisted that they could not be kept on board the aircraft and he considered that their anger was becoming potentially threatening for the crew to take them back to Abuja.
He disclosed that the alternative which the fire services provided was a ladder which the passengers took as an option and on their own free will decided to use the ladder to disembark against the wishes of the Captain and crew.
The Captain, he, reiterated allowed this procedure in order to reduce what he thought was a volatile situation.