BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has defended Air Peace over viral claims that passengers were abandoned in London following a flight disruption, insisting that no traveller was left stranded and that the airline acted within international safety standards.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Najomo dismissed reports suggesting negligence by the Nigerian carrier after a flight disruption caused by a bird strike, describing the narrative circulating on social media as misleading and unfair.
“There was no case of abandonment. The passengers were taken care of. In fact, my wife was on that flight and they were all accommodated by Air Peace,” he said firmly.
He explained that the incident occurred after the aircraft landed safely in London and passengers had disembarked. During a routine post-landing ramp inspection, the pilot reportedly detected evidence of a bird strike, prompting immediate safety procedures.
According to him, Air Peace contacted Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, which advised that the aircraft be grounded for further technical checks before any return flight could be scheduled.
Najomo said the airline immediately activated contingency arrangements, including hotel accommodation for passengers at the Hilton Hotel near Gatwick Airport and plans to rebook them on the next available flight from Abuja.
“Delays and cancellations happen to all airlines. What happened to Air Peace was taken out of context, and it is unfair. No airline deliberately leaves its passengers stranded,” he stated.
He further criticised the viral videos and commentary that trailed the incident, questioning the narrative being pushed against the airline.
“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 also condemned what he described as deliberate attempts to “demarket” Nigeria’s flag carrier, urging the public to avoid amplifying unverified claims capable of damaging the aviation industry.
“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 global carriers such as Delta Air Lines and British Airways as examples of airlines that have also experienced operational disruptions due to unforeseen technical or environmental issues.
Najomo also linked recent disruptions in global aviation to rising operational costs, particularly the surge in aviation fuel prices driven by geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
He noted that many international airlines are currently adjusting operations, cutting routes, and scaling down in-flight services to cope with increased costs and pressure on profitability.
The NCAA boss’s intervention comes amid growing public criticism of Air Peace by some social media users and public figures, who accused the airline of poor passenger handling during delays and cancellations.
However, aviation stakeholders maintain that Air Peace continues to prioritise safety over schedule adherence, stressing that decisions such as aircraft grounding following a bird strike are standard global aviation practice designed to protect lives and ensure airworthiness.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
