NCAA Boss Clears Air Peace, says No Passengers was Left Stranded in London

The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has firmly debunked viral claims that Air Peace abandoned passengers in London, slamming the accusations as deliberate demarketing of a Nigerian carrier.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Najomo stressed that the airline fully complied with safety protocols after a bird strike disrupted a flight. 

“No passenger was stranded,” he insisted, confirming that all affected travelers were swiftly accommodated at the Hilton Hotel near Gatwick Airport following a post-landing inspection.

The NCAA chief condemned efforts to tarnish Air Peace’s reputation, urging the public to rely on verified facts amid rising scrutiny of local airlines on international routes.

“There was no case of abandonment,” the DG said emphatically. “The passengers were taken care of. In fact, my wife was on that flight and they were all accommodated by Air Peace.”

Najomo, in some reports, explained that the aircraft had landed safely in London and passengers had already disembarked when the pilot conducted a routine ramp inspection and discovered evidence of a bird strike. 

Following the discovery, Air Peace immediately contacted aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which advised that the aircraft be grounded pending further checks.

The NCAA DG  noted that the airline swiftly informed passengers of the development and provided several alternatives, including hotel accommodation and arrangements to move passengers on the next available Air Peace flight arriving from Abuja later that day.

“Delays and cancellations happen to all airlines,” he stated. “What happened to Air Peace was taken out of context, and it is unfair. No airline deliberately leaves its passengers stranded.”

An evidently displeased Najomo also criticised individuals posting viral videos about the incident, questioning what more the airline could reasonably have done under the circumstances.

“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.”

The aviation regulator further condemned what he described as efforts to “demarket” Nigeria’s leading indigenous carrier, urging Nigerians to support local airlines rather than amplify negative narratives.

“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?”

Delta Air Lines and British Airways were cited by the DG as examples of major international carriers that have also experienced operational disruptions resulting from unforeseen technical and environmental issues.

Najomo also linked recent disruptions in the aviation sector to the soaring global cost of aviation fuel, worsened by the ongoing Middle East crisis. According to him, airlines across the world are grappling with rising operational expenses and are implementing cost-cutting measures to survive.

He pointed out that several foreign carriers have reduced routes and cut inflight services in response to the economic pressure facing the industry.

The NCAA chief’s comments come amid increasing criticism of Air Peace by some celebrities and social media commentators, some of whom have called for a boycott of the airline over recent delays and cancellations.

However, industry observers note that Air Peace has consistently maintained that safety remains its highest priority, insisting that all operational decisions are guided by established international aviation standards aimed at protecting passengers, crew members, and equipment.