NCAA Summons Air Peace Over ‘Unexplained’ Flight Disruptions
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Air Peace to its headquarters for an urgent meeting over a number of unexplained flight disruptions.
The meeting is expected to hold on Monday.
In a post on X on Saturday, Michael Achimugu, director of public affairs and consumer protection at the NCAA, said the issues include complaints from passengers on its Heathrow-Abuja flight who were rerouted via Gatwick-Lagos-Abuja.
According to Achimugu, the passengers were later stranded in Lagos after the aircraft reportedly returned mid-air due to a cracked windshield.
“The above, along with cases of delayed refunds, compensations/first needs, has activated the Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA,” the director said.
“We will not tolerate any abandonment of paying passengers. While the Authority continues to support domestic carriers, we hold all operators to the strictest standards.”
Achimugu said an investigation into the disruptions would be conducted, with appropriate action taken based on the findings in line with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
“The NCAA, as sole regulatory agency for civil aviation in Nigeria, remains committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders,” he said.
‘NO PASSENGER WAS LEFT STRANDED’
In a statement clarifying the disruption, Air Peace said reports suggesting passengers were abandoned or left stranded are inaccurate.
The airline said the air return occurred due to a cracked windshield suspected to have been caused by a bird strike on the Abuja-London (Heathrow) flight.
“The attention of Air Peace has been drawn to comments circulating on social media suggesting that passengers on our Abuja-London service were abandoned following an air return on 13 March 2026,” Air Peace said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no passenger was abandoned or left stranded at any point during the handling of the situation.”
The decision to return to base, the airline sasid, was made strictly in line with established aviation safety protocols.
“The aircraft safely returned to the Namdi Azikiwe International Airport, where all passengers disembarked safely while our engineering team commenced the necessary technical checks on the aircraft,” the statement said.
“In line with our standard passenger care procedures and global aviation best practices, all affected passengers were well taken care of.
“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.”
Air Peace said it remains committed to regulatory compliance, passenger protection, and operational transparency, adding that it maintains a cooperative working relationship with the NCAA.
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