Ignore Any Message Alleging That Arik Aircraft Are Not Well Maintained — Aviation Expert

Following the recent allegations by a sacked pilot against Arik Air and managers of the Nigeria’s aviation sector, an aviation expert, Captain John Okakpu has berated rumour peddlers for damaging public support and confidence in the sector.

Recall the sacked pilot who was a staff of Arik Air had alleged that Arik Air does not maintain its fleet of aircraft. Reacting, Capt. Okakpu said that such destructive and baseless allegations are counter-productive, particularly now the industry is hugely impacted by the nation’s economic disequili-brium.

The pilot made the allegation barely 24 hours after Arik Air disclosed that it was increasing its flight frequencies to key domestic destinations ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities to cope with passenger demands.

The social media was inundated with the disturbing allegations that the airline takes safety of its aircraft in a pinch of salt.

Capt. Okakpu said, “I am neither a management nor staff of Arik Air, but as a stakeholder in this industry, it beats my imagination for some people to believe wholeheartedly that Arik would play down on safety knowing very well that any slightest mistake leads to catastrophic end.

“Though the airline has refuted the allegation, appealing to its esteemed guests to ignore any message alleging that the airline’s aircraft are not well maintained, it is still quite instructive to plead with Nigerians not to kill this ‘baby’ through rumour peddling.

“As a stakeholder in the aviation industry, I can’t play ignorant of the fact flights are delayed or cancelled, leaving bad impressions on the minds of the passengers. But that is totally different from ignoring safety measures or better put, the need to totally adhere to safety measures could lead to flight delays.

“This could have informed the airline’s decision to “increase flight frequencies on the domestic routes as predicated on the need to ensure that many Nigerians are able to travel home to share the joy of the season with family and friends,” Capt. Okakpu said.

“It is not only un-dignifying, and unpatriotic, but malicious, cheap blackmail and total sabotage for someone to make such baseless allegations just to deceive the public.

Even now businesses are bleeding profusely; it’s sickening to hear some obnoxious minds engaging on ‘pull them down’ approach. Too bad!,” he lamented

Vanguard News.