…Says passengers were not abandoned
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, has defended Air Peace over its handling of a disrupted international flight service, insisting that the airline complied with aviation regulations and did not abandon passengers.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, Najomo explained that the affected aircraft landed safely before engineers discovered a bird strike during routine inspection.
According to him, the airline immediately contacted aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which subsequently advised that the aircraft should remain grounded pending further checks.
Najomo said all affected passengers were adequately catered for and later accommodated at the Hilton London Gatwick hotel located near Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom.
“There was no case of abandonment. The passengers were taken care of,” he said.
The NCAA boss disclosed that his wife was among passengers on the affected flight and personally confirmed that arrangements were made for travellers.
He added that passengers received regular updates from the airline, including options for hotel accommodation and rebooking assistance.
“Delays and cancellations happen across aviation, and no airline intentionally strands passengers,” Najomo stated.
He described criticisms directed at the airline as unfair, noting that aviation investigators had already reviewed the circumstances surrounding the disruption.
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Najomo also urged Nigerians to support indigenous carriers rather than promote narratives capable of damaging local operators.
The NCAA director-general linked recent operational disruptions in the aviation industry to rising aviation fuel costs and broader geopolitical challenges affecting global air travel.
According to him, several international airlines have also adjusted operations by reducing routes and cutting onboard services as part of efforts to manage increasing operating expenses.
