The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Monday, dissociates itself from the claims by Aero that it (FAAN), may have been responsible for its ordeals at Bauchi airport, adding that it has nothing to do with such responsibility at an airport.
Aero had claimed that the Bauchi airport manager who had severally assured it of good facilities at airport, failed to produce the air stair when the aircraft touched down.
But FAAN claims its duty at the airport was not to produce such as it is not a ground handler, adding that lapses in Aero Contractors use of unauthorised equipment at the Bauchi airport should not be ascribed to it.
“Without prejudice to the directive given by the Honourable Minister of State for Aviation, for immediate investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate incident, we wish to clarify that Aero Contractors’ use of unauthorised equipment (ladder) to disembark its passengers does not have anything to do with FAAN.
“The Bauchi Airport is managed by the Bauchi State Government and FAAN only provides statutory services at the airport such as aircraft marshalling, aviation security services and fire cover. The Authority does not provide handling services for Aero Contractors and therefore does not understand why it should be held responsible for non provision of appropriate equipment for passenger disembarkation.
“We also do not understand why the absence of marshallers on the apron, as claimed by the airline, could cause the use of unauthorized equipment for the disembarkation of passengers from the aircraft”, Dati said.
He however urged members of the public to discountenance any story linking FAAN, in any way, with the use of unauthorised equipment by Aero Contractors at the Bauchi Airport over the weekend.
