The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has defended Air Peace over a recent disruption of its international service, attributing the incident to a bird strike and affirming that passengers were adequately taken care of.
The Director-General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Lagos, stressing that the airline complied with all aviation regulations in handling the situation.
Najomo explained that the aircraft involved had landed safely before engineers detected a bird strike during routine post-landing inspection. He said the development necessitated immediate safety measures.
According to him, the airline promptly contacted the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, which advised that the plane be grounded pending further checks.
He dismissed claims that passengers were abandoned, noting that all affected travellers were provided with necessary support, including accommodation.
“All passengers were properly taken care of. There was no case of abandonment. They were moved to Hilton London Gatwick hotel near Gatwick Airport,” Najomo said.
He added that passengers were kept informed throughout the process and given options such as hotel accommodation and assistance with rebooking.
The NCAA boss further revealed that his wife was among the passengers on the affected flight and personally confirmed the arrangements made by the airline.
Najomo described criticisms directed at the carrier as unfair, especially after a review of the incident by relevant authorities.
“Delays and cancellations are part of global aviation realities. No airline deliberately strands its passengers,” he said.
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He urged Nigerians to support indigenous airlines rather than promote narratives that could harm the growth of local operators.
Najomo also linked recent operational disruptions in the aviation sector to rising aviation fuel costs and broader geopolitical challenges, noting that several international airlines have adjusted routes and reduced onboard services to manage increasing expenses.
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