What started as a routine post-flight turnaround at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 ended in chaos this afternoon, after a NAHCO ground equipment operator reportedly slumped while driving, lost control of a baggage conveyor truck, and crashed into a parked Air Peace Airbus A320.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the safe disembarkation of passengers from Air Peace Flight P47427 from Kano, has left the aircraft “totally unserviceable” and thrown the airline’s schedule into disarray.
NAHCO driver
According to eyewitnesses and information gathered from airport sources, the NAHCO staff member was maneuvering the conveyor belt vehicle toward the aircraft when he suddenly became ill.
“The driver slumped while driving the truck and lost control,” a source at the airport told our correspondent. “Before anyone could react, the equipment veered and tore into the engine of the Air Peace aircraft.”
The driver was immediately rushed to the FAAN clinic for medical attention. As of press time, his name had not been officially released as authorities work to notify his family. He is said to be receiving treatment and in stable condition.
Air Peace confirmed the incident in a statement signed by management. The airline said the ground handling equipment “belonging to and operated by NAHCO tore into the aircraft” shortly after passengers had disembarked safely.
“The aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days,” Air Peace stated. “Consequently, several scheduled services will experience delays, while some may regrettably be cancelled as we work to mitigate the disruption through fleet adjustments.”
The airline apologized to passengers affected by the disruption and said its operational and customer service teams are “actively working to minimise the inconvenience by providing available alternatives and ensuring that affected passengers receive the necessary assistance.”
For ground staff who watched it happen, the scene was one of panic turning to concern for their colleague first, and the aircraft second.
“It was not recklessness,” another ground handler who asked not to be named said. “The man just slumped. We were all shouting for him to stop but the truck was already moving. Our first thought was to get him help.”
Air Peace said the safety of passengers, crew, and equipment remains its highest priority and confirmed it is working closely with NAHCO and aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Aviation safety experts note that while ground equipment collisions are rare, they highlight the need for continuous medical fitness checks and fatigue management for ramp personnel who operate heavy machinery in high-pressure airport environments.
For now, the damaged Airbus A320 has been grounded for assessment, while Air Peace scrambles to re-accommodate passengers across its domestic network. The airline asked for “the patience, understanding, and continued support of our valued customers as we diligently manage the operational challenges arising from this incident.”
As investigations continue, all thoughts at MMA1 remain with the NAHCO driver recovering in the FAAN clinic, and with the hundreds of travelers whose plans were upended in a matter of seconds by a medical emergency behind the wheel.
