Ime Akpan
Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has said it was yet to take delivery of 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft it ordered.
Spokesman for the airline, Mr. Chris Iwarah said in a statement that it had become imperative to make the clarification “in view of numerous calls and enquiries on our response to the incidents involving the B737 Max 8 aircraft.”
It would be recalled a B737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed on Sunday and killed all 157 people onboard.
The flight ET 302, on its way to Nairobi from Addis Ababa, crashed six minutes after takeoff, ploughing into a field near Tulu Fara village outside the town of Bishoftu, 40 miles south-east of the Ethiopian capital.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, but the disaster was the second involving the new aircraft in the past four months.
In October, a Lion Air aircraft crashed into the sea off the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, killing all 189 people onboard.
To douse anxiety occasioned by the unfortunate incidents involving that aircraft brand, Iwarah said: “The management of Air Peace Airline has thought it imperative to clarify that Air Peace recently placed a firm order for 10 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
“We are, however, yet to take delivery of the aircraft as we are still at the design and configuration stage of the order.
“This clarification has become necessary in view of numerous calls and enquiries on our response to the incidents involving the B737 Max 8 aircraft.
“Although it is premature to comment on the incidents, we wish to assure members of the flying public that we are closely following and monitoring developments on the issue as an airline that prioritises the safety and well-being of our customers.
“While we keep engaging with our partners in this regard, we repose implicit confidence in Boeing and aviation authorities to capably and satisfactorily address all the issues. If at the conclusion of ongoing investigations it is discovered that the challenge is with the B737 Max 8…
“We urge members of the flying public to continue to choose Air Peace as their preferred airline and trust us to always act in their best interest.”
