Air Peace has confirmed that a bird strike incident disrupted one of its Lagos–Port Harcourt flights on Thursday, leading to delays across parts of its network.
In a statement, the airline’s spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, said the aircraft struck a bird on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, during the morning operation. The incident necessitated the immediate withdrawal of the affected aircraft from service for mandatory safety and technical inspections in line with aviation regulations.
As a result, Air Peace deployed an alternative aircraft to convey passengers on subsequent flights, while making operational adjustments to minimise the impact on its schedule.
Osifo-Whiskey explained that bird strikes, though largely unavoidable, require swift action to ensure passenger safety, noting that the airline prioritised thorough inspections over schedule adherence.
“This has necessitated checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers of subsequent flights on our network,” he said.
The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and empathised with passengers affected by the disruption, assuring them that efforts were ongoing to reduce delays across its services.
Bird strikes remain a recurring challenge for airlines operating in and around airport environments. Air Peace recalled a similar incident in November 2024, when one of its Lagos-bound flights from Abuja was disrupted shortly before takeoff due to a bird strike.
Reaffirming its commitment to safety, the airline stressed that all necessary procedures would always be followed to ensure the airworthiness of its aircraft and the safety of passengers and crew.
