An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt was disrupted on Thursday after the aircraft suffered a bird strike while arriving at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline disclosed the incident in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, explaining that the development required immediate safety checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers on subsequent flights.
“We deeply empathise with passengers affected by this unforeseen incident and are working diligently to minimise disruptions,” Efe said.
The incident adds to the growing challenge of bird strikes faced by domestic airlines.
In December 2025, Air Peace revealed that it recorded 49 bird strikes across Nigeria between January and September, noting that even a single strike could ground an aircraft for weeks.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema, had earlier said on Arise TV that bird strikes remain a major operational challenge, often leading to costly repairs and serious disruptions to flight schedules.
“One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there is no two ways about it. These bird strikes often lead to costly delays and serious disruptions in flight schedules,” Onyema said.
He added that losses from such incidents compound other challenges confronting Nigerian airlines, including heavy taxation and operational constraints.
Elijah Adeyemi
