LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Nigerian filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele and other passengers were stranded at London Gatwick Airport for nearly 10 hours on Friday, May 1, 2026, following a flight delay by the Nigerian airline Air Peace.
Okay News reports that Akindele demanded immediate action from the airline on the social media platform X regarding the lack of luggage, hotel accommodations, and clear communication.
The filmmaker stated that passengers had been waiting since 6:30am after the airline attributed the delay to a bird strike. “Air Peace, this is unacceptable. Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30am at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication,” Akindele said.
Akindele added that promised accommodations had not been provided to the waiting passengers. “After hours of delay, we were told there was a bird strike and promised a hotel. Hours later, people are still sitting at baggage claim hungry, exhausted, and without their bags,” Akindele said.
In a subsequent post featuring a video, Akindele indicated the situation remained unchanged by late afternoon. “Passengers are stranded. People are tired and hungry. Release the luggage and take care of your passengers NOW,” Akindele said.
Air Peace responded to the initial post on the platform, stating that the disruption was due to factors beyond the airline’s control and that their team was working to assist affected passengers. “Such actions are never intentional as we prioritise safety and operational efficiency, and while we strive for on-time departures, certain factors beyond our control can sometimes cause delays,” the airline said.
As of the time the original report was published, neither the passengers nor the airline had confirmed the release of luggage or the provision of hotel accommodations.
