Air Peace Passengers Stranded Overnight In London After Flight Delays

Air Peace Passengers Stranded Overnight In London After Flight Delays
Travellers accused airline of poor communication as tensions rose at airport.
NCAA begins probe following complaints over disruptions, refunds, and compensation delays.

Passengers scheduled to travel to Nigeria on an Air Peace flight from London Heathrow Airport were stranded overnight after repeated delays disrupted their journey.

The flight, initially scheduled to depart at 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, was first delayed to 10:20 p.m., after which passengers said airline officials stopped providing updates.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that travellers said the lack of clear communication caused frustration among those waiting to board, with tensions rising after several hours of uncertainty.

According to Sahara Reporters, one passenger described the situation as tense.

“Passengers almost beat up the operational manager at London Heathrow Airport on Saturday.

“We were scheduled to depart London at 21:20 (9:20 p.m.), but they moved it and said we would depart at 22:20 (10:20 p.m.). But around that time, they stopped responding to us. That was when passengers became enraged.”

Passengers said the prolonged silence from airline officials created confusion and worsened the situation at the airport.

They were eventually moved to a nearby hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“Around 3 a.m., we were evacuated to a hotel. They later sent an email apologising, saying that the time to leave is now 15:00 (3:00 p.m.) on Sunday,” one passenger said.

Some travellers described the experience as chaotic, noting that the delay and limited communication intensified their frustration.

However, an Air Peace official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the disruption was caused by a technical issue and maintained that passengers were informed and properly accommodated.

“The passengers were informed about the technical issue and we provided all of them hotel accommodations.

“All of them were provided information that XYZ service will not be operating due to a technical issue and we provided them based on NCAA directive, customer protections and of course customer regulatory service.”

The official added that passengers were given options, including rescheduling their flights or boarding alternative services.

“We provided them hotel accommodations and of course people also had the opportunity to fly on another service. We have given them the opportunity to reschedule, and we have also given them the opportunity to stay in the hotel while the flight is rescheduled to another time.”

The airline also dismissed claims that passengers were abandoned or not properly informed.

“So if you are saying that the people are agitated, I think that is a wrong narrative that is being pushed out.

“I can confirm that any information that we left them stranded or anything like that is wrong. I don’t know where the narrative that we didn’t communicate to them came from.

“If it was so, how did they get hotel accommodations? How did people know that the flight was not flying? So I think that is an attempt to cause problems because passengers were officially informed.”

The development comes weeks after Air Peace was summoned by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority over a series of passenger complaints linked to flight disruptions.

Reports indicated that the directive followed complaints from travellers on the Heathrow–Abuja route, who were rerouted through Gatwick–Lagos–Abuja before being stranded in Lagos after an air return caused by a cracked windshield.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the regulator had activated its Consumer Protection Department to investigate the situation.

He said the probe was triggered by issues including flight disruptions, delayed refunds, unprocessed compensation and other passenger complaints.