Nigeria’s oldest carrier: Aero Contractors has explained why it resorted to the use of ladder in disembarking passengers at the Bauchi Airport, after it was said to have had problems with unserviceable equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers flown in from the Abuja Airport.

The airline however pointed out that as at the time the 34 passengers were boarding the chartered flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the air stairs was functional.

Explaining what transpired in a statement issued yesterday by its media consultant, SY & T, Aero Contractors said: “A special charter flight operated by Aero to Bauchi had problems with unserviceable equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers from Abuja. Consequently against the airline’s wish and operation safety guideline, the passengers used a ladder to disembark.”

“Aero wishes to state that it took adequate and safety measures for this operation, including the airport’s ground staff crew to handle the air stairs equipment in Bauchi, unfortunately it became unserviceable at the point of disembarkation.

“Although the airline crew tried to calm down the passengers to wait while the equipment was being fixed, the passengers insisted on their own volition to disembark against all safety protocol of the airline,” Aero Airlines said in the statement.