Akwa Ibom Airline management has attributed the cause of the delay of its 7 am flight on Thursday to Abuja to a suspicious technical issue with the nose gear of the aircraft billed to operate the flight.
In a statement issued by the General Manager of marketing and communication of the airline, Mrs Aniekan Essienette, said “While the aircraft was pushing back from the gate, under the supervision of the monitoring engineer, he noticed an issue with on our 7 am flight from Lagos to Abuja, he noticed an issue with the nose gear.
“The engineer, who wore a headset to communicate with the pilots, promptly drew the attention of the Pilot in charge to his observation. The decision was made to inspect the nose, and passengers had to be disembarked.
“This is a routine practice in the industry. The supervising engineers remain vigilant in inspecting an aircraft until it departs.
Also read: Ministry of Aviation orders immediate suspension of Dana Air operations
“While the aircraft has since been taken to the hangar to have the problem fixed, we regret the delay in delivering our usual service to our valued passengers. We will always take precautions and prioritize the safety of our passengers.”
Meantime, Ibom Air has launched its signature CSR project, the Fight Against Malaria in Pregnant Women and Children (FAM) pact to commemorate the 2024 World Malaria Day.
This initiative underscores Ibom Air’s dedication to making a positive impact in the communities it serves by addressing the urgent issue of malaria among pregnant women and children under the age of five.