An Air Peace flight scheduled to depart from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to Lagos faced an unexpected emergency stop on the runway on Thursday morning.
It was gathered that the passengers were jolted as the plane abruptly halted just before takeoff, with some onboard reportedly shaken and a few screaming as the incident happened.
The incident reportedly occurred around 6:30 am on Thursday, leading to anxiety as passengers feared for their safety.
Nigerian human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong shared details of the event on his Facebook page, stating that the captain attributed the incident to a bird strike.
“We have been deboarded to await either a replacement or repair of the aircraft.
Thankfully, whatever happened did not occur after takeoff. It would have been scarier,” he said.
He added, “I am wondering whether there is a bird detection radar tracking technology at the domestic wing of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport?”
The faulty aircraft was swapped out, and passengers were then reboarded onto a new plane.
When SaharaReporters contacted the Head of Corporate Communications, Air Peace Limited, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, he said the flight experienced a bird strike before take-off, prompting a ramp return as a safety measure.
He said all passengers disembarked normally.
“We have deployed a replacement aircraft for the affected flight in order to minimise disruptions, thus ensuring that passengers continue their journeys promptly.
“We appeal for the understanding of our valued passengers impacted by this development, as well as those on other flights that may experience delays.
“At Air Peace, we are committed to providing safe, comfortable, and reliable air travel for all our passengers,” he added.
