Bauchi Airport Controversy: Aero Pilot Allowed Ladder to be Used under Duress

The pilot in command, Captain Nikcevic Vlado, who operated the Aero Contractors chartered flight which disembarked passengers with a ladder in Bauchi last weekend, has told the airline management that he allowed the ladder to be used because of the agitation of the people on board.

The aircraft was chartered for a wedding and the groom who was on board the flight became restive along with the other wedding guests when there was delay caused by the inability of the airport management to provide air stairs for the disembarkation of the people on board.

Aero management said Captain Vlado felt that he could not delay the passengers anymore because he was unsure of the temperament of the passengers on-board who needed to meet up with the ceremony.

The Accountable Manager and Managing Director, Aero Contractors, Capt Russel Lee Foon, explained in a press conference yesterday that the airline was assured of adequate ground handling services by the Bauchi Airport Manager before the airline embarked on the flight with B737—500 series with registration 5N-BLG.

Foon also noted that the charter was booked by a group of young people, who were to attend a wedding party and that the groom was also on board and noted that on December 18, 2015, the airline Head of Ground Operations, Mr. Peter Omata, confirmed the handling of the flight through the airport manager of Bauchi, Mr. Abubakar and that he also confirmed on many occasions the availability of the air stairs and cost.

He further explained that prior to leaving Abuja, the flight dispatcher contacted the Airport Manager to advise that the aircraft was taxing out and he confirmed that they were ready to receive the flight.

According to him, “At 10:42 the aircraft touched down on Runway 35 at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport. The controller advised the crew that due the absence of marshallers and no ramp officials of any sort, that parking would be at their own discretion.

“At 10:44 the flight dispatcher on board contacted the Airport Manager to advise him that they were on the ground, to which he confirmed that he was seeing the aircraft on taxi and that they were waiting. After parking, the captain reported that they waited for up to 10 minutes for the stairs to be brought to the aircraft but no assistance or stairs came to the aircraft. The captain reported that he informed the passengers of the situation as they were beginning to get agitated. What was not known to the crew at the beginning of the flight was that the groom was on board the flight. The wedding was to be started in another 20 minutes.”