Lagos, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Air Peace, the country’s largest airline, to an urgent meeting after passengers on a London-to-Abuja flight were left stranded in Lagos following an aircraft fault.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the summons on Saturday through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu.
Okay News reports that the affected passengers had been rerouted from London Heathrow through London Gatwick and then Lagos before the aircraft returned to Abuja due to a cracked windshield, suspected to have been caused by a bird strike.
The Civil Aviation Authority said the airline has been called to its headquarters on Monday to address several unexplained disruptions, including delayed refunds, inadequate compensation and failure to provide first-need support to affected passengers. The authority warned that abandoning paying passengers would not be tolerated and that investigations would proceed under Part 19 of its 2023 regulations.
Air Peace disputed the characterisation in a statement on Saturday, saying no passengers were abandoned at any point. The airline said it offered affected travellers two options: continue the same day via a Lagos to London Gatwick connection, or travel the following day through Abuja. Hotel accommodation was arranged for those who needed it.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no passenger was abandoned or left stranded at any point during the handling of the situation,” the airline stated.
The summons adds to growing regulatory pressure on Nigerian airlines. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, a separate government agency, is also investigating multiple carriers over alleged price collusion during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Preliminary findings have been completed, with approximately five airlines expected to face sanctions over fares that reached as high as 600,000 naira (approximately $377) on some domestic routes.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, an industry group, has denied price manipulation, arguing that fare increases during peak periods reflect normal supply and demand dynamics.
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