Lagos, Nigeria — Air Peace Airlines has dismissed reports of a purported plane crash involving one of its aircraft in the Western Sahara region, describing the claims as false and malicious.
The airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, issued a statement on Friday refuting the allegations circulating on social media.
“We categorically state that this information is false and malicious. This is a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and tarnish the impeccable safety record of Air Peace,” the statement read.
Misinformation and AI-Generated Images
According to the airline, the claim, which included allegations of fatalities and the death of a prominent individual, is baseless. Dr. Ndiulo clarified that the images accompanying the rumors were AI-generated and bore no relation to any real incident involving Air Peace.
“The author of this post has a history of disseminating false and alarming information about nonexistent tragic incidents,” the airline added.
Public Caution and Call for Verified Information
The statement urged the public to disregard the rumors and warned against reliance on unverified social media reports.
“We urge the public to disregard this malicious disinformation and rely on official channels for accurate information regarding Air Peace operations.”
Social Media Post Sparks Controversy
The denial follows a viral post on the platform X (formerly Twitter) on December 26, where a user alleged that a crash involving an Air Peace aircraft had claimed 50 lives. The claim has since been debunked by the airline, which reassured its passengers of its commitment to safety and operational excellence.
This incident underscores the growing challenge of combatting misinformation in the aviation sector and the importance of verifying news through credible sources.
