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Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the disruption of its Abuja–London service on 13 March 2026, explaining that the aircraft made a precautionary air return after a windshield crack believed to have been caused by a bird strike.
The airline issued the clarification following comments circulating on social media suggesting that passengers were abandoned after the flight returned shortly after departure.
Air Peace, however, insisted that no passenger was abandoned or left stranded during the handling of the situation.
According to the airline, the aircraft departed from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport bound for London when the flight crew detected a crack on the aircraft’s windshield, suspected to have resulted from a bird strike.
The airline explained that the captain promptly initiated an air return in line with global aviation safety protocols, emphasising that the decision was taken strictly as a precautionary measure to guarantee the safety of passengers and crew.
The aircraft subsequently landed safely back in Abuja, where passengers disembarked while the airline’s engineering team commenced technical inspections on the aircraft.
Following the disruption, Air Peace said it activated its passenger care procedures to ensure that travellers could continue their journeys with minimal inconvenience.
Passengers were offered the option of departing the same day through the airline’s Lagos–Gatwick route or travelling the following day on another Abuja–London flight.
The airline disclosed that the majority of passengers chose the same-day option and were transported from Abuja to Lagos free of charge in order to connect with the Lagos–Gatwick service.
Others who preferred to depart the following day were accommodated in Abuja. Hotel arrangements were also provided for passengers who required overnight stay.
Air Peace maintained that the narrative suggesting that passengers were abandoned was inaccurate, stressing that all affected travellers were properly catered for in line with global aviation best practices.
Meanwhile, the country’s aviation regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had earlier summoned Air Peace for an urgent meeting over the disruption and other complaints involving the airline.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed that the airline had been invited to the Authority’s headquarters for discussions.
According to Achimugu, the meeting scheduled for Monday will address “a number of unexplained disruptions”, including complaints received from passengers on the Heathrow–Abuja flight who were reportedly rerouted via Gatwick–Lagos–Abuja and allegedly left stranded in Lagos following the air return caused by the cracked windshield.
He further noted that the complaints, alongside issues relating to delayed refunds and passenger compensation, had prompted the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department to intervene.
“We will not tolerate any abandonment of paying passengers,” Achimugu stated, emphasising that while the regulator continues to support domestic airlines, all operators would be held to the highest operational standards.
The NCAA official added that the Authority would conduct a thorough investigation into the disruptions and determine appropriate actions based on the facts of the incident.
According to him, the probe will be guided by the provisions of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which deals with passenger rights and consumer protection in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Achimugu also reaffirmed that the NCAA, as the country’s sole civil aviation regulatory agency, remains committed to safeguarding the rights and interests of passengers and all stakeholders in the aviation sector.
Despite the controversy surrounding the disruption, Air Peace reiterated that safety remains the cornerstone of its operations.
The airline stated that it maintains a strong and cooperative working relationship with the NCAA and remains fully committed to regulatory compliance, operational transparency and passenger protection.
Air Peace also expressed appreciation to passengers and the travelling public for their patience and understanding during the disruption, while assuring that it would continue to deliver safe, reliable and world-class air transport services across its domestic and international network.
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