No passenger was abandoned on Abuja-London flight air return - Air Peace

Air Peace has clarified that on it’s recent Abuja-London (Heathrow) flight air return incident, no passenger was abandoned or left stranded at any point while it handled the situation.

This clarification is coming after the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) summoned Air Peace, over what it described as “number of unexplained disruptions, including complaints received by the authority from passengers on the Heathrow-Abuja flight who were rerouted via Gatwick-Lagos-Abuja and left stranded in Lagos.”

However in a statement by Air Peace on Saturday, it stated that the air return occurred due to a windshield crack suspected to be caused by a bird strike on its Abuja–London (Heathrow) flight.

According to the airline, the decision to return to base was strictly in line with established aviation safety protocols.

“The aircraft safely returned to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where all passengers disembarked safely while our engineering team commenced the necessary technical checks on the aircraft.

“In line with our standard passenger care procedures and global aviation best practices, all affected passengers were well taken care of,” the airline stated.

The airline reiterated that no single passenger was left stranded.

Related News

“We immediately provided passengers with options of flying out the same day through our Lagos-Gatwick route or flying the following day through Abuja to London. Majority of the passengers were flown to Lagos free of charge to join our Lagos – Gatwick. Some preferred to fly the next day through Abuja.

“Hotel accommodation was provided to those who needed it.

“We therefore respectfully clarify that the characterization of passengers being abandoned or stranded is inaccurate and wonder where this narrative came from,” the airline stated.

The airline said it maintains a strong and cooperative working relationship with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and remains fully committed to regulatory compliance, passenger protection, and operational transparency.

“Air Peace deeply appreciates the patience and understanding shown by our valued passengers and the traveling public during the disruption.

“We decry the deliberate bashing and persistent hounding of Air Peace for unfounded reasons,” the airline added.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.