Chicken strike grounds plane amid security warnings

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Security Investigation Bureau have raised recent issues over poor coordination and security lapses on airport aprons throughout the nation, warning that weaknesses on the bottom pose severe dangers to lives, plane, and the credibility of Nigeria’s aviation system.

The warning got here as United Nigeria Airways grounded one in all its plane following a chook strike incident, a improvement that disrupted some scheduled flights throughout its community and underscored the significance of strict security requirements in aviation operations.

Talking on the Plane Marshaller Consultative Discussion board and Joint Apron Stakeholders Operations Workshop in Lagos on Wednesday, the Director-Normal of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, stated incidents on airport aprons value the worldwide aviation trade billions of {dollars} yearly and depart tons of of hundreds of individuals injured.

“Nigeria should not ignore the teachings written in broken plane and preventable accidents,” Najomo warned.

Airport aprons, slim stretches of tarmac the place plane, individuals, and heavy gear function in shut proximity, have more and more grow to be stress factors for security issues. From congestion throughout passenger boarding to weak coordination amongst floor groups, regulators stated the warning indicators have been clear and chronic.

Najomo, who was represented by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Requirements, Ahmad Abba, described the apron because the nerve centre of airport operations, a high-risk setting the place pilots, marshallers, engineers, fuelers, floor handlers, and air visitors controllers should work in seamless coordination.

He stated, “Any breakdown in self-discipline or communication right here just isn’t a minor operational flaw. It’s a severe menace that may undermine effectivity, security, and public confidence in air journey.”

Abba disclosed that latest NCAA inspections have continued to disclose troubling practices at Nigerian airports, together with passengers boarding whereas plane are being refuelled, overcrowded aprons forward of exits, plane parked outdoors designated bays, shortages of educated marshallers, and weak supervision between apron groups and airfield operations.

“These practices depart airports susceptible to avoidable accidents and expensive disruptions,” he stated, including that apron operations would stay a key focus of the regulator’s enforcement efforts.

He urged trade stakeholders to maneuver past rhetoric and guarantee sensible options that will reshape every day operations and inform regulatory actions, whereas pledging sustained collaboration with businesses such because the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Administration Company, the Nigerian Meteorological Company, the Nigerian Security Investigation Bureau, and floor dealing with firms.

He emphasised that “security is non-negotiable. It should stay the bedrock of Nigeria’s aviation trade.”

Investigators on the discussion board agreed that many aviation accidents are triggered lengthy earlier than an plane leaves the bottom. The Director-Normal of the NSIB, Alex Badeh Junior, warned that unsafe floor dealing with, poor coordination, and weak security tradition stay among the many main causes of plane harm and accidents worldwide.

Badeh, who spoke by means of his consultant, Henry Nwanyanwu, stated investigation information in Nigeria and overseas constantly hyperlink severe incidents to collisions with floor gear, jet blast, overseas object particles, gasoline spills, and incorrect marshalling indicators.

“Behind these incidents are sometimes human and organisational failures, fatigue, complacency, time stress, and poor supervision. These elements can flip a small mistake into a significant accident,” he stated.

He described plane marshallers as a important however typically missed security hyperlink between the cockpit and the bottom, warning {that a} single improper sign might have devastating penalties. In keeping with him, correct coaching, medical health, sufficient gear, and the authority to cease unsafe operations are important for security suggestions to have an actual affect.

Additionally talking, the Director Normal of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, described the apron because the operational hub of the airport and one in all its most risk-prone zones, the place fuelling, baggage dealing with, catering, and passenger boarding typically happen concurrently.

Represented by Shehu Bashir, Anosike warned that even minor lapses might end in accidents, plane harm, flight delays, or lack of life. “Apron security is key to defending individuals and preserving aviation’s fame because the most secure mode of transport,” he stated.

In the meantime, United Nigeria Airways confirmed that it had grounded one in all its plane following a chook strike incident. In a press release on Wednesday, the airline’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka, stated the affected plane had been withdrawn from service in keeping with strict security protocols and would bear a complete inspection earlier than being cleared to return to operation.

“United Nigeria Airways needs to tell our valued passengers that, resulting from a chook strike on one in all our working plane on thirteenth January, 2026, some flights throughout our community won’t function as scheduled,” the assertion learn partially.

The incident reportedly occurred round 10:00 pm and was detected at 12:00 am throughout a routine inspection. The airline expressed remorse over the inconvenience brought on and appealed for passengers’ understanding, stressing that security stays its prime precedence.