Air Peace Embraer Jet Grounded at Lagos Airport After Ground Handling Collision

Incident at Murtala Muhammed International Airport

A newly acquired Air Peace Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, registered as 5N-BYH, was grounded at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, Nigeria, on Friday, December 26, 2025. The incident occurred when a luggage conveyor belt vehicle, operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), collided with one of the aircraft's engines.

The collision took place after approximately 150 passengers had completed boarding for Flight P47750, which was scheduled to depart from Lagos to Accra. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Damage and Operational Disruptions

The impact caused visible damage to the aircraft, specifically a dent and tear on the thrust reverser cowling, a critical component of the engine cover. Following aviation safety procedures, an immediate technical assessment was conducted, leading to the grounding of the aircraft. All passengers on board were subsequently asked to disembark.

The grounding of the Embraer 195-E2 resulted in significant delays and disruptions to Air Peace's scheduled operations. Sources indicate that nine scheduled flights assigned to the aircraft for that day were affected, leaving numerous passengers stranded or requiring rebooking on alternative services.

Financial Implications and Calls for Improved Safety

Air Peace confirmed the incident and highlighted the substantial financial implications, noting that repairs involving modern aircraft engines are capital-intensive. The airline stated that a similar engine cowling damage incident earlier in the year cost approximately $3.5 million to rectify.

Michael Achimugu, spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirmed the incident and appealed to passengers for calm, emphasizing that the incident was not the airline's fault. Achimugu also criticized the training of some ground handling personnel, stating, 'We need to start naming and shaming poorly trained ground handling personnel whose inefficiency costs airlines significant reputational, financial and technical damage.' He added that the NCAA would look to strengthen regulations to sanction service providers for such incidents.

Ongoing Investigations

Investigations are expected to be launched to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the collision. These inquiries will likely examine the condition of the ground handling equipment and assess compliance with standard operating procedures.