The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has underscored the need
for additional scrutiny and precaution in the aviation sector in
order to ensure safe operations and passenger satisfaction.
The Director General of CPC, Babatunde Irukera made the
assertion in a statement issued on Friday following an emergency
landing of Arik Air Flight W3304 at Kotoka International Airport,
Accra (ACC), Ghana on Tuesday evening.
Irukera acknowledged the efforts of the Sector regulator, the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in this direction,
insisting that these efforts should be reinforced to avoid
incidents in the sector and to sustain consumer confidence.
According to him, “the CPC again encourages relevant aviation
authorities to ensure full compliance with local and other
applicable consumer protection laws, regulations and protocols
particularly, but not limited to the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Regulations Part 19.
“Although there have been reported accidents in world aviation
in recent times, and incidents in Nigeria, CPC understands that the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is exercising additional scrutiny
and precaution to continue to ensure safe operations and passenger
satisfaction. CPC welcomes this assurance while underscoring the
importance of such efforts to avoid incidents and sustain consumer
confidence in the sector”, he added.
The director general disclosed that “on Tuesday March 6th, 2018,
Arik Air Flight W3304 departed Murtala Mohammed International
Airport, Lagos (LOS) for Kotoka International Airport, Accra (ACC)
at approximately 19:15hrs for a 55-minute flight. The flight was
operated by a Dash 8 Q400 turbo propeller aircraft.
“Close to arrival and approximately 81 miles from ACC,
passengers reported smoke in the cabin of the aircraft. The captain
confirmed that there was smoke in the cabin from an unknown source,
but secured the operation of the aircraft. He declared an emergency
and landed the aircraft in accordance with emergency landing
procedures.
“All passengers and crew disembarked safely and ultimately
received their baggage. CPC understands that Ghanaian aviation
authorities have been notified and (in partnership with Nigerian
Civil aviation authorities) are in charge of inquiring into, and
investigating the incident. The aircraft has remained on ground in
Accra accordingly” he further pointed out.
The Council’s director general also commended the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) for its “unprecedented attention and
action” in directing “a safety audit of a domestic airline involved
in an incident”.
Irukera advised consumers to always “exercise their rights by
demanding and insisting on appropriate services and providing
timely information to relevant authorities in the event of
irregularities.
“Once again, we are grateful all passengers are safe and demand
that Arik deploy all necessary apparatus to ameliorate any
inconvenience or anxiety passengers may have experienced” he
added.
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has underscored the need
for additional scrutiny and precaution in the aviation sector in
order to ensure safe operations and passenger
satisfaction.
The Director General of CPC, Babatunde Irukera made the
assertion in a statement issued on Friday following an emergency
landing of Arik Air Flight W3304 at Kotoka International Airport,
Accra (ACC), Ghana on Tuesday evening.
Irukera acknowledged the efforts of the Sector regulator, the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in this direction,
insisting that these efforts should be reinforced to avoid
incidents in the sector and to sustain consumer confidence.
According to him, “the CPC again encourages relevant aviation
authorities to ensure full compliance with local and other
applicable consumer protection laws, regulations and protocols
particularly, but not limited to the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Regulations Part 19.
“Although there have been reported accidents in world aviation
in recent times, and incidents in Nigeria, CPC understands that the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is exercising additional scrutiny
and precaution to continue to ensure safe operations and passenger
satisfaction. CPC welcomes this assurance while underscoring the
importance of such efforts to avoid incidents and sustain consumer
confidence in the sector”, he added.
The director general disclosed that “on Tuesday March 6th, 2018,
Arik Air Flight W3304 departed Murtala Mohammed International
Airport, Lagos (LOS) for Kotoka International Airport, Accra (ACC)
at approximately 19:15hrs for a 55-minute flight. The flight was
operated by a Dash 8 Q400 turbo propeller aircraft.
“Close to arrival and approximately 81 miles from ACC,
passengers reported smoke in the cabin of the aircraft. The captain
confirmed that there was smoke in the cabin from an unknown source,
but secured the operation of the aircraft. He declared an emergency
and landed the aircraft in accordance with emergency landing
procedures.
“All passengers and crew disembarked safely and ultimately
received their baggage. CPC understands that Ghanaian aviation
authorities have been notified and (in partnership with Nigerian
Civil aviation authorities) are in charge of inquiring into, and
investigating the incident. The aircraft has remained on ground in
Accra accordingly” he further pointed out.
The Council’s director general also commended the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) for its “unprecedented attention and
action” in directing “a safety audit of a domestic airline involved
in an incident”.
Irukera advised consumers to always “exercise their rights by
demanding and insisting on appropriate services and providing
timely information to relevant authorities in the event of
irregularities.
“Once again, we are grateful all passengers are safe and demand
that Arik deploy all necessary apparatus to ameliorate any
inconvenience or anxiety passengers may have experienced” he
added.