Conveyor Belt Collision Grounds Air Peace Aircraft, Disrupts Flights

Damage to engine cover forces passenger deboarding and triggers multiple flight delays, NCAA confirms

Flight operations on Air Peace’s Lagos–Accra route were disrupted on Friday after a ground handling conveyor belt collided with one of the airline’s aircraft, damaging its engine cover and forcing passengers to disembark.

The incident occurred after boarding had been completed, according to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which confirmed that the aircraft could no longer proceed with the scheduled flight.

NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the collision was caused by a ground handling error and not a technical failure on the part of the airline. He explained that the damage affected the aircraft’s engine cowling, making it unsafe for operation.

As a result, the aircraft, which was scheduled to operate up to nine flight sectors, was immediately withdrawn from service. Passengers booked on subsequent flights using the aircraft are expected to face delays, cancellations, or rebooking challenges.

Achimugu noted that although the disruption was not Air Peace’s fault, the airline would still bear the operational and financial consequences, including refunds, compensation obligations, and repair costs, much of which require foreign exchange.

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He further revealed that the affected aircraft was one of Air Peace’s newer E2 models and had been fully booked until mid-January 2026, compounding the scale of the disruption.

While airlines often attribute such incidents to “technical or operational reasons,” the NCAA spokesman stressed that ground handling failures are increasingly responsible for disruptions that damage airlines’ reputations and strain passenger relations.

He called for stronger accountability measures, urging aviation authorities to begin naming and sanctioning poorly trained ground handling personnel whose actions result in costly damage to aircraft.

The NCAA, he added, is reviewing existing regulations with a view to imposing stricter penalties on service providers responsible for avoidable incidents that disrupt flight operations.

Passengers affected by the disruption were advised to expect possible rescheduling, while the Authority appealed for public understanding, noting that standby aircraft options were limited due to similar ongoing situations.