NCAA DEFENDS AIR PEACE OVER GATWICK FLIGHT DISRUPTION, SAYS SAFETY WAS PRIORITY
Read Time:1 Minute, 55 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has defended Air Peace over the recent flight disruption at Gatwick Airport in London, stating that the airline acted in the interest of passenger safety.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, made this known on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the unveiling of the Modern Personnel Licensing and Certification (MPLC) Digital Transformation Initiative and PEL/MED Stakeholder Engagement held at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Najomo urged Nigerians not to condemn local airlines over operational disruptions, noting that flight delays and cancellations are a global occurrence.
His comments follow public criticism of Air Peace after passengers were reportedly stranded at Gatwick Airport due to a disruption linked to a bird strike incident.
Among the affected passengers was Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, who had earlier taken to social media to express frustration over the situation, alleging poor communication and prolonged delays.
In her post on X (formerly Twitter), Akindele wrote that passengers, including elderly travellers, were left stranded from early morning hours without adequate updates, food, or access to their luggage.
Responding to the incident, Najomo said Air Peace took the appropriate safety decision by grounding the aircraft after consulting Boeing.
“What happened with Air Peace in London that went viral is not very good. We should all support our own. Air Peace did the right thing by not operating that flight,” he said.
He explained that Boeing reportedly advised against operating the flight until all safety concerns were resolved following the bird strike.
According to him, the airline also made arrangements for affected passengers, including hotel accommodation close to the airport, while awaiting an alternative aircraft from Abuja.
“I investigated it, and I learnt that passengers were taken to a hotel and were told to wait for the aircraft coming from Abuja,” Najomo stated.
The NCAA boss stressed that aviation safety decisions must always take precedence over convenience, adding that aircraft are mechanical systems that can experience unexpected issues.
“Flights are delayed all over the world. These are machines; anything can happen,” he said.
Najomo also urged the public to show more understanding toward Nigerian carriers operating in a challenging global aviation environment, while assuring that the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Unit continues to engage in passenger awareness and protection efforts.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0