IRS Awaits Report Over Damaged Plane

IRS Airline, whose plane was damaged on Wednesday after it collided with an abandoned truck on the Lagos airport taxiway,is awaiting a report from the Accident Investigation Bureau before it takes action, said Yemi Dada, IRS’ Managing Director.

The airline may seek compensation from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, owners of the abandoned truck and managers of the taxiway, sources said.

“Following the incident on the apron, we will await the report of the Accident Investigation Bureau. The AIB has completed its review of the incident and has recommended to the NCAA that we can go ahead to repair the aircraft.

“This detailed AIB report will inform the next line of action and engagement between us and FAAN,” Dada said.

The wing of the Fokker-100 aircraft clipped the truck, impeding the passenger plane flight plans.

Dada in a statement on Wednesday explained that flight LVB 3306 hit the truck as it attempted to taxi out on a Lagos to Kano flight, with a transit stop at Abuja.

“The aircraft taxied out at 7:48 a.m. with 91 passengers. While taxing on the taxi way, the Captain observed a FAAN truck in a ditch. There were no marshals around it neither was there any marking to indicate that it encroached into the taxi way. There was no notice to Air Men (NOTAM) issued to that effect as well,” Dada said.

—Simon Ateba