Thieves Steal Cockpit Gadgets From Arik Plane at Lagos Aiport
Suspected thieves have broken into an Arik Air aircraft parked at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, stealing valuable gadgets.
The break-in, according to findings, has left the Boeing 737 aircraft grounded without its Flight Management Computer (FMC) and other accessories.
Arik spokesperson, Banji Ola, yesterday, confirmed the security breach, saying the matter has been reported to appropriate authorities.
The Guardian learnt that the Boeing 737-73V, with registration number EI-ULN, was raided between 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday night when the airplane was parked, and 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2022, when the break-in was first noticed.
The FMC is a fundamental component of a modern airliner’s gadgets. It is a specialised computer system that automates a wide variety of in-flight tasks, reducing the workload on the flight crew to the point that modern civilian aircraft no longer carry flight engineers or navigators. A primary function is in-flight management of the flight plan.
Aviation stakeholders said the break-in and removal of the FMC could only have been done by an insider with technical know-how.
The Lagos airport has had security issues lately. The Guardian had earlier reported multiple vandalisation of vehicles at the fee-for-service Seymour Aviation Multi-level Car Park at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Motorists and travellers alike complained about forced entries into parked cars, removal of car accessories and personal effects, coupled with harassment of users.
In December, Arik Air filed an occurrence report with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over attempted robbery of its taxing aircraft by unknown men that encroached the runway at the Lagos airport.