Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace Limited, has spoken on the circumstances surrounding the disruption of its London Gatwick-Lagos service on May 1, 2026.
In a statement released on 𝕏, the Airline argued that passengers were not abandoned and that its actions were based on safety concerns.
Management said a circulating social media video claiming passengers were left stranded without communication or care “does not accurately reflect the full circumstances surrounding the disruption.
The airline said the flight was impacted by a bird strike, which it said was a “recognised force majeure event in aviation”, and said the aircraft had to be grounded immediately for safety checks.
“The affected flight suffered a bird strike which required the immediate grounding of the aircraft for thorough safety checks as per global aviation standards,” the airline said, stressing that “safety is non-negotiable, and under no circumstance would we operate an aircraft without the required safety clearance.”
Air Peace, however, said passengers were immediately informed about the incident and the consequent cancellation.
“Affected passengers were promptly informed of the incident and the cancellation of the service,” it said, adding that arrangements were made for the comfort of passengers, including hotel accommodation at the Hilton London Gatwick.
The airline did acknowledge operational challenges that delayed some passenger handling processes, especially baggage retrieval.
“We faced further operational constraints, such as airport congestion and delays from ground handling services responsible for baggage retrieval,” it explained.
It also stated that baggage handling is not within the direct control of the airline.
“Baggage handling at international airports is handled by appointed ground handling companies and as such Air Peace does not have direct control over these processes,” the statement read.
The airline said it was in contact throughout the disruption and denied passengers were abandoned.
“Passengers were not left behind. It said communication was maintained with all affected passengers and every effort was made to ensure their welfare,” it said, adding that all passengers were offered accommodation while arrangements were being finalised to deploy another aircraft.
The airline also complained of criticism of its handling of the incident.
“We are shocked and appalled at the relentless negative hounding of our airline over a safety-driven, force majeure incident,” it said, adding that the flight captain gave timely updates to passengers.
Air Peace apologised for the inconvenience and appealed for understanding.
“We understand that aviation disruptions can be upsetting but aviation operations are not ‘plug and play’,” it said, noting the involvement of multiple stakeholders and strict safety protocols.
The airline reiterated its commitment, saying it “remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety, comfort, and overall well-being of our passengers” and that it will continue to review its processes to improve service during unplanned disruptions.
