Aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday put paid to an attempt by young man from stowing away ona taxiing aircraft belongng to Air Peace.
Spokesperson for FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said in a statement that the incident occurred around 8.50am when AVSEC staff manning the C1 link/holding area at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, General Aviation Terminal, Lagos sighted a young man of about 25 years making toward the aircraft.
“In a swift response, the AVSEC personnel on static guard duties at the area rushed to stop his further movement towards a taxiing Air Peace aircraft numbered APK 7252 and with registration number (CS-TQU) and a struggle ensued.
All efforts to stop the intruder by the unarmed AVSEC personnel failed as the intruder continued to resist arrest.
“While the struggle was ongoing, the AVSEC personnel called for reinforcement and alerted the pilot of CS-TQU of the intrusion, and to delay the aircraft to allow for a successful apprehension of the intruder.
The intruder was eventually apprehended by the AVSEC personnel with the support of the reinforcement and has been taken into custody for investigations.
The aircraft was also advised to return to base for necessary safety/ security inspection in line with standard procedure. Subsequently, the aircraft departed Lagos at 10:16 with 171 passengers, and six crew,” she said.
Yakubu also said the managing director of FAAN, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, in company with the directors of aviation security services, airport operations, aswell as the regional general manager and the airport chief of security inspected the site of the incident and discussed with the Captain of the aircraft, who commended the action of the aviation security team.
Also confirming the incident, spokesman for Air Peace, Mr. Stanley Olisa, said in a statement that the timely action by security operatives stopped the intruder from accessing the Owerri-bound aircraft.
“This morning…at the MMA1 (Murtala Muhammed International Airport, General Aviation terminal) Lagos, as Owerri-bound Air Peace aircraft (flight P47252) was taxing towards the threshold for takeoff, a man, in his twenties, emerged from the bush along the runway, and tried to gain access to the aircraft through the wheel-well (space where the wheels retract to).
“There was a private jet behind the aircraft. The pilot in command of the private jet informed the Air Peace pilot in command that a young man obviously in his twenties, was trying to force his way into the aircraft.
The security wing of FAAN in charge of the airside of the airport was alerted and the man was accosted and whisked away.
“When interrogated on why he took the action, the man stated that he thought the aircraft was headed overseas,”Olisa said.
He commended FAAN for its timely intervention.
