NCAA Clarifies Air Peace Investigation, Says No Passengers Abandoned After Gatwick Bird Strike

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has explained that its recent inquiry into Air Peace was triggered by a bird strike incident on the carrier’s London Gatwick–Lagos flight, and was aimed entirely at verifying compliance with statutory safety standards — not to penalise the airline.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo dismissed widespread allegations that passengers were abandoned without accommodation, insisting the airline acted responsibly and in accordance with international aviation protocols.

According to Najomo, all affected passengers were promptly lodged at the Hilton Hotel near Gatwick Airport after a routine post-landing ramp inspection revealed evidence of a bird strike on the aircraft that had earlier landed safely and been fully disembarked.

“There was no case of abandonment,” Najomo stated. “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 upon discovering the damage, Air Peace immediately contacted manufacturer Boeing, which recommended grounding the aircraft for further checks. The airline then informed passengers of the development and offered options including hotel accommodation and rebooking on the next available Air Peace flight arriving from Abuja later that day.

“Delays and cancellations happen to all airlines,” the DG added. “What happened to Air Peace was taken out of context, and it is unfair. No airline deliberately leaves its passengers stranded.”

Najomo questioned the rationale behind viral videos circulating about the incident, asking what more the carrier could reasonably have done. He stressed that the NCAA’s investigation found Air Peace followed all necessary protocols, and that the regulator would not hesitate to criticise the airline if it had erred.

The NCAA chief also expressed concern over what he termed a campaign to “demarket” Nigeria’s leading indigenous carrier, urging the public to support local airlines rather than amplify negative narratives.

“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 asked.

Najomo linked recent aviation disruptions to the soaring global cost of jet fuel, exacerbated by the ongoing Middle East crisis. He observed that carriers worldwide are cutting routes and scaling back inflight services to cope with rising operational expenses.

The comments come amid mounting social media criticism and calls by some celebrities to boycott Air Peace over recent delays and cancellations. Industry observers note that the airline has consistently maintained that safety remains its highest priority, with all operational decisions guided by established international standards aimed at protecting passengers, crew and equipment.