Nigeria’s aviation regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has summoned officials of Air Peace to an urgent meeting in Abuja following reports of flight disruptions and complaints from passengers regarding delays in refunds and compensations.
The development follows incidents involving passengers on the airline’s Abuja–London service who were reportedly rerouted through Lagos after the flight experienced a technical issue mid-journey.
According to the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the authority received complaints from passengers who said they were redirected from Heathrow Airport in London to a revised route through Gatwick Airport and eventually to Lagos, where some claimed they experienced delays.
Achimugu, speaking via a statement posted on his X account, said the aviation regulator would not tolerate any situation in which paying passengers are left without adequate care.
“While we continue to support domestic airlines, we also hold them to the strictest operational and consumer protection standards,” he said.
Read Also:
- Eject Unruly Passengers or No Flight, NCAA orders Airlines
- NCAA bans use of mobile phones during aircraft take-off
- NCAA to sanction airports without required permits
He added that a formal investigation would be carried out in line with the provisions of the 2023 NCAA consumer protection regulations, noting that the authority remains committed to safeguarding the rights of airline passengers and other stakeholders in the aviation sector.
In response, Air Peace rejected claims that passengers were abandoned during the disruption.
The airline explained that the incident occurred on March 13, 2026, when its Abuja–London flight experienced a technical problem involving a cracked windshield suspected to have resulted from a bird strike.
According to the airline, the aircraft safely returned to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where passengers disembarked while engineers conducted technical inspections.
Air Peace maintained that all affected passengers were properly attended to and given travel alternatives.
The airline said many passengers were transported at no additional cost to Lagos to connect with its Lagos–Gatwick service, while others opted to travel the following day on another Abuja–London flight.
It added that hotel accommodation was provided for passengers who required overnight stays.
Air Peace also dismissed online claims that travellers were stranded, describing the narrative as inaccurate.
The airline reiterated its commitment to maintaining a cooperative relationship with the NCAA and emphasised that passenger safety remains the highest priority in its operations.
Despite the airline’s assurances, the regulator says it will review the circumstances surrounding the disruption to determine whether further action is required.
