The flight dispatcher responsible for an erroneous entry of a wrong code into the dispatch document for a United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) flight bound for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, has been suspended indefinitely by the airline.
According to a report by Daily Independent, the unnamed flight dispatcher received a suspension letter from the airline’s management on Tuesday following the incident that led to an embarrassing situation for the carrier.
The suspension will persist pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation into the matter.
Mr. Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, Head of Corporate Communications at United Nigeria Airlines, confirmed the suspension while refraining from providing further details.
Uchegbu clarified that the suspension was a procedural action taken to facilitate an investigation and should not be considered an indictment.
The incident occurred when the dispatcher mistakenly entered the code “ABB” into the dispatch document, intended for Asaba International Airport, Delta, instead of “ABV,” the code for Abuja Airport.
This mistake prompted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to issue new guidelines concerning wet-leased aircraft.
The investigation remains ongoing as various organizations, including the Flight Dispatcher Association of Nigeria (FLIDAN), have weighed in on the incident.
FLIDAN, represented by Victoria Adegbe, its Secretary-General, asserted that the flight dispatcher adhered to Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, specifically Part 8-Operations, by submitting a flight plan to the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS).
The plan indicated Lagos as the departure point and Abuja as the destination, with Enugu and Port Harcourt Airports listed as first and second alternates, respectively.
