What happened
On April 26, 2022, at approximately 09:08 local time, an Embraer ERJ-135BJ aircraft operated by Max Air Limited was preparing for a chartered flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) in Abuja to Margaret Ekpo Airport in Calabar. The aircraft, bearing the registration 5N-BXK, had been parked overnight at an unmarked position on the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) Cargo Apron.
Following engine start clearance from Air Traffic Control, the flight crew completed their post-start checklist and requested taxi instructions to Holding Point Runway 22. At this time, no ground handling agent was present to assist with wingtip clearance monitoring, and the sole FAAN marshaller on duty was occupied elsewhere. Consequently, the crew proceeded to taxi without external visual guidance.
As 5N-BXK moved toward the runway holding point, the apron was noted to be heavily congested with various aircraft parked on both sides of the taxi lane. During a left turn to exit the bay, the pilot flying confirmed with the pilot monitoring that the right side was clear. However, as the aircraft initiated the turn, its left winglet struck the tail cone of a parked ATR 42 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, registered as NAF 930. The military aircraft had been parked at an unmarked spot beyond the designated parking lines, with its tail section protruding into the active taxi lane. The collision caused damage to the winglet of the commercial jet and sheared off a section of the ATR's tail cone. All six passengers and three crew members aboard 5N-BXK disembarked safely without injury.
The investigation
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) conducted a final investigation into the ground collision. Key findings revealed that the GAT/Cargo Apron was operating under significant congestion, with aircraft parked in both marked and unmarked positions. The investigation highlighted that the military ATR 42 was positioned improperly, violating standard parking alignment and wingtip clearance protocols. Furthermore, it was established that the personnel who marshalled the military aircraft to this location lacked formal training in standard marshalling techniques.
The commercial flight crew acknowledged the congested conditions via CVR recordings but continued the taxi without securing the services of authorized marshallers or wing-walkers, despite recognizing the tight space. The airport's Safety Management System had identified apron congestion as a high-risk hazard, yet risk control measures, including adequate marshaller staffing and the completion of apron expansion projects, had not been fully implemented.
Findings
The primary causal factor was the decision by the flight crew to taxi in a congested environment without utilizing authorized ground assistance services. Contributing factors included the failure of the flight crew to conduct a specific briefing for taxiing in congested areas and the inappropriate parking of NAF 930, which obstructed the taxi lane. Systemic issues at the airport included an insufficient number of FAAN marshallers and a lapse in the airport's safety management system in detecting and mitigating the hazard posed by improperly parked aircraft.
Safety action
The NSIB issued eleven safety recommendations directed at Max Air Limited, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. These actions include requirements for Max Air to mandate briefings and the use of authorized marshalling services in congested aprons. FAAN was urged to recruit and train adequate marshallers and accelerate apron expansion projects. The Nigerian Air Force was advised to ensure its personnel adhere to airport parking procedures and receive proper training, while the regulator was tasked with enforcing compliance across all airport users.