The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN has exonerated itself from Aero Contractors use of unauthorised equipment to dissembark passengers at Bauchi airport.
A statement signed by FAAN’s general manager corporate communications, Yakubu Dati stated that ascribing lapses in Aero Contractors use of unauthorized equipment at the Bauchi Airport to the Authority by some sections of the media is misleading and mischievous .
 
“Without prejudice to the directive given by the Minister of State for Aviation, for immediate investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate incident, we wish to clarify that Aero Contractors’ use of unauthorised equipment (ladder) to disembark its passengers does not have anything to do with FAAN”, Dati said.
 
He explained that the Bauchi Airport is managed by the Bauchi State Government and FAAN only provides statutory services at the airport such as aircraft marshalling, aviation security services and fire cover.

Dati stated further that the Authority does not provide handling services for Aero Contractors and therefore does not understand why it should be held responsible for non provision of appropriate equipment for passenger disembarkation.
 
Dati in his words added that: We also do not understand why the absence of marshallers on the apron, as claimed by the airline, could cause the use of unauthorised equipment for the disembarkation of passengers from the aircraft.
 
He urged members of the public to discountenance any story linking FAAN, in any way, with the use of unauthorized equipment by Aero Contractors at the Bauchi Airport over the weekend.