Air Peace Limited has grounded one of its newly acquired Embraer 195-E2 aircraft following a ground handling incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, which disrupted several scheduled flights on Boxing Day.
The airline said the incident occurred after passengers had boarded the aircraft when a luggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) reportedly struck the aircraft’s engine.
The jet, registered as 5N-BYH, was scheduled to operate Flight P47750 from Lagos to Accra before the collision forced an immediate safety assessment and withdrawal from service.
According to Air Peace, the impact caused visible damage to the engine, including a dent and tear on the thrust reverser cowling, making it unsafe for flight operations.
Passengers already on board were asked to disembark, resulting in delays and cancellations.
Aviation sources confirmed that up to nine flights assigned to the aircraft for the day were affected, with passengers either stranded or rebooked on alternative services.
Industry insiders noted that the affected Embraer 195-E2 is among the airline’s newest fleet additions, increasing the operational and financial significance of the incident.
Beyond passenger inconvenience, experts warned that engine-related repairs on modern aircraft are costly.
Earlier this year, a similar engine cowling incident reportedly cost the airline about $3.5 million to repair.
The incident has renewed concerns about ground handling safety standards at major Nigerian airports, with observers pointing to recurring issues involving equipment condition, personnel training and ramp safety procedures.
No injuries were reported, and investigations are expected to determine the exact cause of the collision, including whether standard operating procedures were followed.
