Stranded Abroad!” – Protest Erupts Over Air Peace Heathrow–Nigeria Flight Delay

Passengers scheduled to travel to Nigeria on an Air Peace flight from London Heathrow Airport reportedly expressed frustration after multiple delays left them stranded overnight.

According to some passengers, the flight was originally scheduled to depart at 9:20 p.m. on Saturday but was later postponed to 10:20 p.m. After that, they claimed airline officials stopped providing further updates.

Travellers said the lack of communication from airline staff heightened tension and confusion among those waiting to board.

One passenger, speaking to Sahara Reporters, alleged that the situation became increasingly tense after hours of uncertainty.

He said passengers nearly confronted the airline’s operational manager at Heathrow Airport, adding that the absence of information contributed to their anger.

By the early hours of Sunday, passengers were eventually moved to a nearby hotel. They later received an email from the airline apologising for the disruption and announcing a new departure time of 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Some passengers described the experience as chaotic, saying the delays and poor communication worsened the situation.

However, an anonymous Air Peace official attributed the disruption to a technical issue, insisting that passengers were properly informed and taken care of.

The official said passengers were notified of the issue, provided with hotel accommodation, and given options to reschedule or await the next available flight, in line with regulatory guidelines.

He also dismissed claims that passengers were abandoned, arguing that such claims were misleading.

According to him, the provision of accommodation and information to passengers proves that the airline maintained proper communication throughout the incident.

The development comes weeks after Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) summoned Air Peace over a series of passenger complaints related to flight disruptions.

Reports indicated that previous issues included rerouted flights and stranded passengers following an air return caused by a technical fault.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the agency had launched an investigation through its Consumer Protection Department.

He said the probe would address issues such as flight disruptions, delayed refunds, and compensation concerns, with appropriate actions to follow in line with aviation regulations.