Robbers Burgle Arik Air’s Boeing737-73V, Steal $300,000 Gadget

Arik Air Aircraft Boeing 737-73V with registration number EI-ULN was on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, burgled at the domestic terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and its Flight Management System stolen.

Sources say the episode smacks of internal sabotage. According to reports, the event took place following a security breach at the domestic terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The stolen FMS is a computer designed to provide virtual data and operational harmony between closed and open elements associated with a flight from pre-engine start and take-off, to landing and engine shutdown.

The theft is believed to have taken place between the late hours of Wednesday, January 19 and the early hours of Thursday, January 20 and this led to flights cancellations and postponement.

A source at the airline said, “The burgled aircraft was parked inside the tarmac at MM2 and someone got access to the electrical/electronic base where we have all the systems. There is a door underneath the aircraft where they opened and got access to remove the FMS and that was why we had obstruction in our operations that day.

“It is expected that the CCTV should be on and capture whoever did it but we haven’t heard anything to that effect. The equipment that was stolen is small but it cost a lot of money. To repair it cost about $15,000 and a brand new one cost about $300,000 as at 2021.

“Every item in an aeroplane has serial numbers and can be tracked anywhere in the world, so i don’t know how the thief intends selling it unless the person has a vendor. That is why we believe it is an internal sabotage” a source said.

Kayode Shopekan