FAAN begins evacuation of abandoned aircraft

Category: News Published on Friday, 25 January 2013 01:53 Written by Chris Agabi, Lagos

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday began evacuation of abandoned aircraft across the country’s airports.

The exercise, which began in Lagos airport, would see some 13 abandoned aircraft evacuated in 10 days. At least 60 aircrafts in all will be evacuated across the country’s airports at the end of the exercise.

FAAN had earlier set up a task force some two weeks ago headed by Captain Henry Omeogu to clear the airports of abandoned aircraft. The committee had given the owners of the aircraft one week to relocate the aircrafts or risks having them evacuated by FAAN. The ultimatum lapsed yesterday and true to the committee’s word, it began dismantling the aircrafts.

The first to go down was Boeing 727-200 belonging to FAAN itself.

In the coming days, the other aircraft belonging to IRS, NICON Airways, Dasab Air, Fresh Air among others would give way.

FAAN GM Corporate Affairs Mr. Yakubu Datti told our correspondent at the dismantling site that FAAN is committed to ridding the airports off abandoned aircraft because the aircraft now constitute security and safety threats to airiness and passengers.

“The responsibility of the taskforce is to clear the land space of abandoned aircraft. The committee called on the aircraft owners to evacuate the aircraft within a week or risked being evacuated by FAAN. The one week grace lapsed yesterday and the committee true to their word has begun evacuation of the abandoned aircraft,” he said.