Air Peace has suspended a scheduled flight from Warri to Lagos after one of its aircraft was involved in a bird strike while landing at Osubi Airport.
The airline confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe.
According to the airline, the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service for detailed safety inspections after the incident occurred during landing operations.
Air Peace explained that engineers carried out preliminary assessments upon the aircraft’s arrival and discovered the need for additional examinations of the landing gear.
“Preliminary inspections revealed the need for further checks on the landing gear, necessitating the grounding of the aircraft in accordance with established aviation safety procedures,” the statement said.
As a result, the aircraft’s scheduled return flight from Osubi to Lagos was cancelled.
The airline noted that measures had been implemented to reduce the inconvenience to affected passengers, including the provision of hotel accommodation in Osubi while arrangements are made to complete their journeys.
Air Peace expressed regret over the disruption and apologized to customers impacted by the cancellation.
The airline also reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards across its operations, emphasizing that passenger safety remains its top priority.
“At Air Peace, safety remains our foremost priority,” the airline stated.
“While disruptions of this nature are regrettable, every operational decision is guided by our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance.”
The carrier thanked passengers for their patience, understanding and cooperation during the situation and assured them that updates would be provided as inspections and operational reviews continue.
Bird strikes remain a common aviation challenge globally and often require thorough technical inspections to ensure aircraft safety before returning to service. Air Peace said all actions taken in response to the incident were in line with established aviation safety regulations and industry best practices.
