NCAA Summons Air Peace Over Heathrow Flight Incident, Disruptions

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Air Peace to its headquarters in Abuja for an urgent meeting on Monday following what the regulator described as a series of unexplained flight disruptions involving the airline.

The development was disclosed by the director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, who said the action followed complaints received from passengers affected by the disruptions.

According to Achimugu, the complaints included those from passengers on Air Peace’s Heathrow-Abuja service on Saturday who were rerouted through Gatwick-Lagos-Abuja and later left stranded in Lagos after the aircraft reportedly returned due to a cracked windshield.

He explained that the incident, alongside other complaints involving delayed refunds, passenger compensation, and provision of care for affected travellers, prompted the activation of the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department.

Achimugu warned that the authority would not tolerate violations of contractual obligations between airlines and passengers.

“We will not tolerate any abandonment of paying passengers. While the Authority continues to support domestic carriers, we hold all operators to the strictest standards,” he said.

He further disclosed that the regulator had commenced an investigation into the reported disruptions and would take appropriate action based on the outcome.

“An investigation into these disruptions will be conducted and appropriate action taken as usual, based on the facts of the incident as enshrined in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023,” Achimugu stated.

The NCAA reiterated its commitment to protecting passenger rights, stressing that as Nigeria’s sole civil aviation regulatory authority, it remains dedicated to ensuring compliance with aviation regulations and safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders in the industry.