Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s aviation regulator has summoned the country’s largest airline to explain a series of operational disruptions that reportedly left passengers stranded during an international flight service between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the federal government agency responsible for regulating civil aviation in Nigeria, directed the airline Air Peace Limited to appear at its headquarters in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, for an urgent meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026.
Okay News reports that the meeting follows complaints from passengers regarding flight disruptions, including a diversion involving the airline’s service between Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
The development was disclosed by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement released on Saturday.
According to Achimugu, the aviation authority called the meeting after receiving multiple complaints from passengers who experienced unexpected changes to their travel plans.
“Air Peace has been summoned to the NCAA headquarters for an urgent meeting on Monday with regard to a number of unexplained disruptions,” Achimugu said.
He explained that the most recent incident involved passengers who boarded a flight in London expecting to arrive directly in Abuja but were instead redirected through several airports before reaching their final destination.
Achimugu said, “Complaints were received today from passengers on the Heathrow-Abuja flight who were rerouted via Gatwick-Lagos-Abuja and left stranded in Lagos.”
Gatwick Airport is another major international airport in London, United Kingdom, while Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city and home to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs.
Some affected passengers reportedly expressed frustration after spending several hours in transit without receiving clear communication from the airline about the changes to their travel itinerary.
The aviation regulator said it had also received complaints relating to delayed refunds, unresolved compensation claims, and concerns about the treatment of passengers affected by the disruptions.
Achimugu warned that the authority would not accept any situation where passengers who have purchased tickets are abandoned or left without assistance during travel disruptions.
“The above, along with cases of delayed refunds, compensations and first needs, has activated the Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA.
“We will not tolerate any abandonment of paying passengers. While the Authority continues to support domestic carriers, we hold all operators to the strictest standards,” Achimugu warned.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that a formal investigation will now be conducted to determine the causes of the disruptions and whether regulatory rules were breached.
“The NCAA, as the sole regulatory agency for civil aviation in Nigeria, remains committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders,” Achimugu said.
Authorities indicated that appropriate action could follow once the investigation is completed.
When contacted for a response, the airline’s spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, said the company would provide clarification but had not issued a formal statement at the time of publication.
The outcome of the upcoming meeting is expected to determine whether regulatory action will be taken against the airline or if operational adjustments will be required to prevent similar incidents in the future.
