Nigerian carrier, Air Peace has opened up on circumstances surrounding the disruption of its Abuja–London flight on March 13, 2026, refuting claims circulating in the media that passengers were abandoned following an air return.
While insisting that no passenger was stranded during the incident, the company stressed that all affected travellers were adequately catered for.
Air Peace explained that the aircraft operating the Abuja–London (Heathrow) service made an air return after the crew detected a crack on the windshield, suspected to have been caused by a bird strike.
Air Peace explained that the decision to return to base was taken in line with established aviation safety protocols.
“The aircraft subsequently landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja where passengers disembarked safely while the airline’s engineering team commenced technical checks on the aircraft,” it said.
The airline stated that, in line with standard passenger care procedures and global aviation best practices, affected passengers were provided with alternative travel arrangements.
Passengers were given the option of departing the same day through the Lagos–Gatwick route or travelling the following day from Abuja to London.
According to the airline, the majority of passengers were flown to Lagos at no cost to connect with the Lagos–Gatwick flight, while others opted to travel the next day from Abuja.
Disclosing that hotel accommodation was provided for passengers who required it, Air Peace described reports suggesting that passengers were left stranded as inaccurate and questioned the origin of the narrative.
The airline added that it maintains a strong and cooperative working relationship with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and remains committed to regulatory compliance, passenger protection and operational transparency.
It also expressed appreciation to passengers and the travelling public for their patience and understanding during the disruption, reiterating that safety remains the cornerstone of its operations.
