Actress Funke Akindele, Others Stranded At London Airport Over10-hour Flight Delay By Air Peace

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has criticised Air Peace over the prolonged delay of passengers at London Gatwick Airport, where travellers were reportedly left stranded for nearly 10 hours without their luggage, accommodation, or clear communication.

Akindele took to X on Friday to demand urgent intervention, revealing that passengers, including elderly individuals, had been waiting since about 6:30 a.m. with little information after being told that a bird strike caused the disruption.

“Air Peace, this is unacceptable. Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30am at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication,” she wrote.

She added that despite initial assurances of hotel accommodation, many passengers remained stuck at the baggage claim area hours later without their belongings.

“After hours of delay, we were told there was a bird strike and promised a hotel. Hours later, people are still sitting at baggage claim hungry, exhausted, and without their bags,” Akindele said.

Highlighting the toll on vulnerable travellers, the filmmaker noted that elderly passengers were struggling while families appeared increasingly fatigued and frustrated. She urged the airline to release the luggage and fulfil its promise of accommodation.

In a follow-up post accompanied by a video, Akindele said the situation had not improved hours later.

“Air Peace, what is going on? Since 7am at London Gatwick Airport and it’s almost 4pm — no bags, no hotel, no proper updates. Passengers are stranded. People are tired and hungry. Release the luggage and take care of your passengers NOW,” she wrote.

Responding to her initial complaint, Air Peace expressed regret over the inconvenience, attributing the delay to factors beyond its control.

“Such actions are never intentional as we prioritise safety and operational efficiency, and while we strive for on-time departures, certain factors beyond our control can sometimes cause delays,” the airline stated.

The airline added that efforts were underway to assist affected passengers and appealed for patience.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation that the luggage had been released or that hotel accommodation had been provided for the stranded passengers.