…Says Bird Strike Necessitated Interruption
Air Peace has explained that its Gatwick–Lagos flight was hit by bird strike, leading to the disruption of its operations on the route .
The explanation was given in a statement signed by the management of the airline and made available to aviation correspondents in Lagos.
Clarifying the issues surrounding the disruption, the airline said, “Our attention has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media alleging that passengers on our London (Gatwick) to Lagos service today, May 1, 2026, were stranded without communication and provision of necessary care.
“We would like to provide clarity on the situation, as this narrative does not accurately reflect the full circumstances surrounding the disruption.
“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 statement said.
“At Air Peace, safety is not negotiable, and under no circumstance would we operate an aircraft without the required safety clearance,” it added.
Air Peace said that following this development, the affected passengers were promptly informed of the incident and the cancellation of the service, and arrangements were made for their comfort, including hotel accommodation at the Hilton Hotel in London, Gatwick as well as necessary transit coordination.
However, the airline, said it encountered additional operational constraints, including airport congestion and delays from ground handling services responsible for baggage retrieval.
These factors, it pointed out affected the timely retrieval of passengers’ checked baggage, which in turn impacted the speed at which some passengers were transferred to their hotels
The airline noted that baggage handling at international airports is managed by designated ground handling companies, operating within strict airport procedures and regulatory protocols, adding that as such, Air Peace does not exercise direct control over these processes, and all baggage retrieval must follow established due process.
Air Peace stated that at no point were passengers abandoned and that communication was maintained with all affected passengers, and every effort was made to ensure their welfare throughout the disruption.
“We can confirm that all passengers were offered hotel accommodation at the Hilton London Gatwick, and those who elected to accept have now been accommodated, while we finalise arrangements for the deployment of another aircraft to complete the service.
‘We recognise that aviation disruptions can be distressing, and we remain empathetic to the inconvenience experienced by our esteemed passengers. However, it is important to emphasise that aviation operations are not “plug and play.” They involve multiple stakeholders, layered safety protocols, and strict regulatory compliance, particularly in situations involving force majeure events such as bird strikes, the airline said.
The statement added that while the airline respect the right of passengers to express their concerns, it find the ongoing negative hounding of Air Peace over a safety-driven, force majeure incident to be shocking and unwarranted, especially in light of the timely announcements and necessary updates made by the Captain of the flight to all affected passengers, as well as the responsible and proactive steps taken to ensure passenger safety, communication, and overall care throughout the disruption.
Air Peace, the statement assured remain steadfast in its commitment to the safety, comfort, and overall well-being of its passengers, and the airline will continue to review its processes to further enhance its service delivery during unforeseen disruptions.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers and the flying public,” the airline said.
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