Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has addressed the disruption of its London Gatwick–Lagos flight on May 1, 2026, stating that safety—not negligence—was behind the incident.
In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the airline dismissed claims circulating on social media that passengers were abandoned without care or communication, describing such reports as misleading and lacking full context.
According to the airline, the flight was disrupted after the aircraft suffered a bird strike—an aviation risk it described as a force majeure event—forcing an immediate grounding for thorough safety inspections.
Air Peace stressed that it could not compromise on safety under any circumstances. It explained that operating the aircraft without proper checks would have gone against global aviation standards.
The airline also said passengers were promptly informed about the situation and the eventual cancellation of the flight. To cushion the impact, it arranged hotel accommodation for affected travellers at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport.
However, it admitted that there were some operational setbacks, particularly with baggage retrieval. Air Peace noted that such services are handled by independent ground handling companies at international airports, and are not directly under the airline’s control.
Responding to allegations that passengers were left stranded, the airline insisted that communication was maintained throughout and that efforts were made to ensure passenger welfare. It added that all affected travellers were offered accommodation while arrangements were underway to deploy a replacement aircraft.
Air Peace also expressed concern over the backlash it has received, describing the criticism as unfair given that the disruption was caused by a safety-related emergency.
While acknowledging the inconvenience caused, the airline appealed for patience and understanding, noting that aviation operations involve multiple stakeholders and strict safety procedures.
It reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety and comfort, adding that it would continue to review its processes to better handle unexpected disruptions in the future.
