Arik Air flights were yesterday grounded at the Lagos Airport over its inability to secure aviation aviation, it was learnt.
According to a source close to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the inability of carrier to air lift passengers out of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Airport, Ikeja, Lagos was borne out of its inability to get aviation fuel at the Lagos Airport.
Tne NCAA source did not give details.
Another source hinted that the Airport Police Command has deployed a detachment of officers and men to the international wing of the airport to maintain peace and order over a possible backlash by passengers trapped in the flight disruptions.
“I learnt that Arik Air has not operated any flight today on account of lack of aviation fuel. However, other flights by other airlines operated flights in and out of the Lagos Airport,” the source said.
Meanwhile, scores of passengers remain stranded at the airport.
The airline is yet to officially comment on the issue.
Many of Arik Air passengers on the international routes created scene at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport yesterday over flight delays.
Trouble started when the airline’s passengers particularly those billed to travel on the airline to the Lagos/Johannesburg and Lagos/JFK, New York routes waited for hours without being called for boarding.
After waiting for hours without any hope of making the flights and without enough communications from the airline ticketing staff, the situation which had already become tensed resulted to open confrontation between the aggrieved passengers and some officials of the airline.