Minor Damage To Both Airplanes, No One Was Injured

A Boeing 737-700 flying for Arik Airlines collided with a C-130 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force on the tarmac at Jos airport Saturday, resulting in what the airline described as minor damage to both airplanes and no injuries.

The Boeing was taxiing for departure to Lagos when one of its wings struck the wing of the parked airlifter. In a statement released by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Wing Commander A. Makun, Deputy Director, Directorate of Airforce information said the accident damaged the wingtip of the C-130, but that a portion of the wing of the Boeing had become separated from the fuselage and was hanging from the NAF aircraft.

The All Africa website reports that an Arik Airlines statement released to the media indicates the damage to the airliner was confined to the left winglet on the Airliner. Both the NAF and the airline said the "tank 1 wing tip" of the C-130 was slightly damaged in the incident.

The managing director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, said that the taxiway markings were partly to blame for the accident. He said the markings are "old" and were not designed to accommodate larger aircraft like the B737-700. He said some initial media reports had exaggerated the extend of the damage to the airliner.

The website Ghana MMA reports that the NAF airlifter had been in Jos to transport students attending the Air Force Military School and Air Force Military Girls School to the Plateau State Capitol. A joint investigation involving the NAF and civilian aviation authorities has been launched.

FMI: www.nigerianairforce.net, www.ncaa.gov.ng