The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has summoned Air Peace over a disrupted Heathrow-Abuja flight that reportedly left passengers stranded in Lagos after the aircraft returned due to a cracked windshield.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, who disclosed this via his official X account, said that the airline has been invited to the regulator’s headquarters for an urgent meeting to address the incident and other recent operational disruptions.
According to the regulator, passengers on the flight were rerouted through Gatwick–Lagos–Abuja, but some reportedly experienced delays and disruption when the aircraft returned mid-journey due to the damaged windshield.
The authority said its Consumer Protection Department has been activated to review complaints related to delayed refunds, compensation, and passenger assistance, stressing that abandoning paying passengers will not be tolerated. The NCAA added that the case will be investigated under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which governs passenger rights and airline compliance.
Responding to the issue, Air Peace said the aircraft returned to Abuja in line with safety protocols after a cracked windshield, possibly caused by a bird strike, was detected. The airline maintained that no passenger was abandoned, noting that affected travellers were offered alternative routes via Lagos–Gatwick or Abuja the following day, with hotel accommodation provided where necessary.
The incident comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny in Nigeria’s aviation sector. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is also investigating airline pricing practices, with sanctions expected against some carriers over alleged fare manipulation during the last Christmas and New Year travel season.
The situation underscores increasing pressure on airlines to maintain operational reliability, fair pricing, and stronger consumer protection standards in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
