BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Air Peace has defended its handling of the disruption that hit its London Gatwick to Lagos service on May 1, 2026, insisting passengers were neither stranded nor abandoned, contrary to claims circulating on social media.
In a statement issued by management, the airline said the cancellation of the flight was triggered by a bird strike, a recognised force majeure incident in global aviation, which required the immediate grounding of the aircraft for mandatory safety inspections.
“The affected flight experienced a bird strike, which is a recognised ‘force majeure’ event in aviation, necessitating the immediate grounding of the aircraft for comprehensive safety inspections in line with global aviation standards,” the airline said.
Air Peace stressed that passenger safety remains its highest priority, adding that it would never operate an aircraft without full regulatory clearance.
“At Air Peace, safety is not negotiable, and under no circumstance would we operate an aircraft without the required safety clearance,” the statement added.
The airline said passengers were informed promptly about the incident and the cancellation, while arrangements were made to provide accommodation and welfare support.
According to the carrier, affected travellers were offered lodging at Hilton London Gatwick alongside transit coordination.
However, Air Peace said the response was complicated by congestion at the airport and delays involving third-party baggage handlers, which slowed the retrieval of checked luggage and delayed the transfer of some passengers to their hotels.
“It is important to note that baggage handling at international airports is managed by designated ground handling companies, operating within strict airport procedures and regulatory protocols,” the airline explained. “As such, Air Peace does not exercise direct control over these processes.”
The carrier maintained that communication was sustained throughout the disruption and that passengers who accepted the hotel offer had been accommodated, while plans were being finalised to deploy another aircraft to complete the journey to Lagos.
The airline also pushed back against what it described as persistent criticism over an incident caused by safety concerns beyond its control.
“While we respect the right of passengers to express their concerns, we find the ongoing negative hounding of our airline over a safety-driven, force majeure incident to be shocking and unwarranted,” it said.
Air Peace noted that aviation disruptions often involve multiple agencies, strict compliance procedures and operational complexities, adding that flight operations are not “plug and play.”
The airline reaffirmed its commitment to improving service recovery processes during unforeseen disruptions and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
Air Peace currently operates one of the few direct air links between London and Lagos by a Nigerian carrier, making any disruption on the route especially significant for travellers.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
