About 150 passengers were left stranded on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after a ground handling accident damaged an Air Peace aircraft that was preparing to depart for Accra, Ghana. The incident caused major disruption to flight operations and led to the cancellation and delay of several services scheduled for the day.
The affected aircraft is a newly acquired Embraer 195-E2 jet operated by Air Peace. The aircraft, with registration number 5N-BYH, was scheduled to operate Flight P47750 from Lagos to Accra when the incident occurred.
According to aviation sources, the accident happened after passengers had completed boarding. A luggage conveyor belt truck belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) reportedly struck one of the aircraft’s engines while the plane was still on the ground.
The collision caused visible damage to the aircraft’s thrust reverser cowling, which is part of the engine casing. Following the impact, safety officials immediately ordered a technical inspection, and the aircraft was grounded to prevent further risk.
As a result, all passengers on board were asked to disembark. Many of them were already seated and expecting to depart when the announcement was made. The sudden development caused confusion and frustration among passengers, especially those travelling for business or with tight schedules.
A source familiar with the situation disclosed that the aircraft was scheduled to operate nine flight sectors on Friday. These included both domestic and regional routes. All nine flights were affected by the grounding of the aircraft.
“This aircraft was planned to fly multiple routes today,” the source said. “Once it was grounded, the entire schedule collapsed. Passengers had to be rebooked on other flights, while some were left stranded.”
The source added that beyond the inconvenience to passengers, the incident carries serious financial implications for the airline. Repairs involving aircraft engines are often complex and costly, especially when parts have to be sourced from abroad.
He recalled a similar incident earlier in the year when damage to an engine cowling reportedly cost an airline about 3.5 million dollars to fix. Such repairs also take time, leading to prolonged disruption of flight schedules.
Thankfully, no injuries were recorded in the incident. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft. Investigations have since commenced to determine how the accident occurred and whether safety procedures were followed by the ground handling crew.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident and the resulting disruption. The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said the accident directly affected Air Peace’s Lagos–Accra service.
In a post on X, Achimugu explained that the aircraft had already boarded passengers when the ground handling equipment hit the engine cover. This damage made it unsafe for the aircraft to fly, leading to the decision to deboard passengers.
He confirmed that the aircraft was scheduled to operate nine flight legs for the day and that passengers booked on those flights would experience delays or cancellations.
According to Achimugu, the airline now faces several challenges, including compensation claims, refund obligations, and reputational damage, even though the disruption was not caused by the airline itself.
He also noted that Air Peace would have to spend a large amount of foreign exchange to repair the damaged aircraft. Replacement parts for modern aircraft are usually imported, and delivery can take weeks.
Achimugu referred to a previous incident involving a bird strike, which reportedly cost Air Peace over 3 million dollars to resolve. He said it took almost a month for a replacement engine cowling to arrive from the manufacturer.
He further disclosed that the damaged aircraft is one of Air Peace’s newly delivered E2 jets. The plane had been fully booked for scheduled operations up to January 15, 2026. This means that passengers booked on future flights using the aircraft may also be affected.
The Embraer 195-E2 is one of the most modern aircraft in Air Peace’s fleet. It is known for its fuel efficiency and higher passenger capacity compared to older aircraft. The grounding of such a plane therefore has a wide impact on airline operations.
Achimugu pointed out that in many cases, airlines are blamed by the public for delays and cancellations, even when the cause lies with service providers such as ground handling companies.
He explained that airlines often describe such disruptions as “technical” or “operational” issues, rather than publicly naming the service provider responsible. This, he said, is done to avoid conflict and protect industry relationships, but it often leaves passengers with incomplete information.
He argued that poorly trained ground handling personnel should be held accountable for incidents that cause heavy financial, technical, and reputational losses to airlines.
According to him, the NCAA is considering tougher regulatory actions against service providers found culpable in such cases. These measures may include stricter sanctions, fines, or suspension of operating licences.
Achimugu also urged that passengers should be told the true reasons for flight disruptions. He appealed to affected passengers to be patient and understanding, noting that airlines sometimes have limited options in such situations.
He explained that while Air Peace has standby aircraft, many of them were already deployed to handle other operational challenges. In addition, some of the available aircraft have lower seating capacity than the damaged E2 jet, making it difficult to accommodate all affected passengers immediately.
“These behind-the-scenes realities often make airlines appear culpable when they are not,” Achimugu said.
The incident has once again drawn attention to safety standards and training in ground handling operations at Nigerian airports. Ground handling companies play a critical role in aviation, as their activities include baggage handling, aircraft cleaning, refuelling, and the use of heavy equipment around aircraft.
A small mistake during ground operations can result in serious damage, flight disruptions, and huge financial losses. Aviation experts have repeatedly called for improved training, supervision, and strict adherence to safety rules.
Passengers affected by Friday’s incident expressed frustration over the delays and uncertainty. Some said they were informed they would be rebooked on later flights, while others were still waiting for clear information on refunds or alternative arrangements.