Man breaches security at Lagos airport

…  Endangers passengers, aircraft

A middle aged man yesterday gained access to the runway of the Murtala Muhammed Airports, Lagos thereby endangering the lives of about a hundred passengers aboard the B737 aircraft belonging to Medview Airline at risk.

According to an official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria who works at the airfield of the airport,  the incident occurred at about 1.51pm when a ‘mad man’ gained access to the security area of the airport through many of the porous ways from Shasha area.

He stated that  the captain of the aircraft on take-off saw a man who was walking across the airplane, and has to blast him .

The FAAN source explained the blasting led to severe burns to the man.

According to him, “the man is a director of a company at Shasha who developed madness. He was carrying a bag. He was taken away immediately the incident happened.

‎‎It was also gathered that the man Abibu Olusola was arrested after the Captain of Medview airline  attacked the suspect using jet blast  while attempting to gain assess to the aircraft which was waiting on the threshold of the Runway 18 of the airport  for take-off.

Nigerian Pilot learnt that the Medview aircraft had just left MMA2 terminal for take off at about 12.30pm‎ but suddenly the captain of the aircraft discovered that someone was moving closer to his aircraft even as passengers who were observing the unusual movement raised alarm.
This prompted the Captain to alert the control tower had to move forward to stop the suspect from getting near its aircraft, but when he realised that the suspect was running after the moving aircraft he attacked  him with jet blast which caused the suspect to fall down on the runway.
The suspect has been arrested by airport security operatives.
‎Meanwhile,  General Manager, Corporate Affairs‎ of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Dati in his statement of what transpired explained that vigilant Aviation Security staff of the FAAN yesterday , December 2, 2015, apprehended a man, Mr. Alabibu Olushola, who was attempting to stow away in a taxing aircraft on the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The culprit was arrested as soon as he scaled the perimeter fence near the moving aircraft and after interrogation by the Avsec staff, he was immediately handed over to the police for further interrogation.

The Authority wishes to remind members of the public that access to restricted areas of the airport, including the tarmac and perimeter roads, is prohibited for unauthorized people, including airport staff, who have no business being there. This is more so in view of the present security situation in the country.

The Authority will henceforth not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person, including unauthorized airport staff, who is found loitering around restricted areas of all our airports.

Also, the management of Medview Airline yesterday commended the crew of one of its flight for assisting security agencies to arrest a man at the runway of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos

In a statement signed by the media consultant of Medview Airlines , Obuke Oyibotha,  said the action of the crew, which led to the arrest and the return of the aircraft to the tarmac for security check was in line with ICAO recommended best practices on aviation security.

According to the statement, the Maiduguri bound aircraft via Abuja was taxing to the threshold for take-off when the pilot sited a man on the active runway and alerted the control tower on his observation and requested for aviation security personnel.

While still taxiing, the pilot noticed that the same man has crossed to the threshold, and was moving towards the aircraft, and had to alert the control tower again for security, Obuke, said in the statement.
 
He stated that the man wanted to get entangled with the engine thrust pilot increased the speed of the engine before he was picked up by security agents.

“The pilot asked for permission to return to base, where security agencies including Bomb disposal Squad conducted a thorough check on all passengers, luggage and the entire aircraft and appropriate clearance was given”, Obuke concluded.