The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has defended Air Peace over allegations that it abandoned passengers in London following a flight disruption caused by a bird strike.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Najomo dismissed viral social media claims that passengers were stranded in the United Kingdom without care or accommodation, insisting that the airline acted responsibly and complied fully with aviation safety procedures.
According to him, all affected passengers were accommodated at the Hilton Hotel near Gatwick Airport after the operating aircraft suffered a bird strike discovered during post-landing inspections.
“There was no case of abandonment,” Najomo said. “The passengers were taken care of. In fact, my wife was on that flight and they were all accommodated by Air Peace.”
He explained that the aircraft had landed safely in London and passengers had disembarked before the pilot carried out a routine ramp inspection, during which evidence of a bird strike was discovered.
Following the discovery, the airline reportedly contacted aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which advised that the aircraft should be grounded pending further technical checks.
Najomo said Air Peace immediately informed passengers of the development and arranged alternatives, including hotel accommodation and plans to move affected passengers on the next available Air Peace flight from Abuja.
“Delays and cancellations happen to all airlines,” he stated. “What happened to Air Peace was taken out of context, and it is unfair. No airline deliberately leaves its passengers stranded.”
The NCAA Director-General also criticised individuals circulating viral videos about the incident, questioning what more the airline could reasonably have done under the circumstances.
“At this point, what did you expect Air Peace to do?” he asked. “I am not here to defend Air Peace. If they go wrong, I will criticise them. But the NCAA investigated this incident and found that Air Peace did the right thing and followed all necessary protocols.”
Najomo condemned what he described as deliberate efforts to “demarket” Nigeria’s leading indigenous airline, urging Nigerians to support local carriers rather than amplify negative narratives online.
“We should support our own,” he said. “Incidents like this happen globally. It happened to Delta. It happened to British Airways. Nobody made noise about it or posted endless videos online. Why should Air Peace be treated differently?”
He cited Delta Air Lines and British Airways as examples of international carriers that have also experienced operational disruptions arising from unforeseen technical and environmental factors.
The NCAA boss further linked recent disruptions in the aviation sector to the rising global cost of aviation fuel, worsened by tensions in the Middle East.
According to him, airlines worldwide are struggling with mounting operational expenses and many have been forced to reduce routes and scale back inflight services to remain financially viable.
His remarks come amid increasing criticism of Air Peace by some celebrities and social media users over recent delays and cancellations involving the airline.
Industry observers, however, note that Air Peace has consistently maintained that passenger safety remains its top priority and that all operational decisions are guided by international aviation safety standards.
