No stealing of baggage at Lagos Airport - FAAN

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has rejected reports of baggage pilfering on taxiing aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos.

It said such reports were ‘baseless and practically impossible.’

The Authority through its spokesperson, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu last night stated that it was not possible for anyone to burgle an aircraft in motion.

“Furthermore, because aircraft are highly technical machines, it is practically impossible for anyone who does not have the requisite training and competence to operate or tamper with the baggage compartment”, she said.

It would be recalled that two incidents of alleged poaching were recently reported, the latest being that which occurred on a chartered flight from Uyo to Lagos on December 26. The first incident which an investigation was was on another private jet arriving from Istanbul Turkey.

However, FAAN insisted that in both instances, preliminary findings from investigations conducted by an inter-agency committee set up to probe the allegations could not substantiate the claims.

“The purported victims in the said cases also did not make themselves available for questioning, in the quest to unravel the case”, the agency said.

While investigations were still ongoing, FAAN reassured travellers and the general public that with the level of safety and security systems on ground at the airports, “It is practically impossible for an aircraft to be burgled within our Runways and Aprons.”