An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt was disrupted on Thursday after the aircraft suffered a bird strike upon arrival at Port Harcourt International Airport.
In a statement, the airline’s spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, said the incident required safety checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another plane for subsequent flights.
“We deeply empathise with passengers affected by this unforeseen incident and are working diligently to minimise disruptions,” Efe stated.
This adds to a growing challenge for local airlines. In December 2025, Air Peace revealed it recorded 49 bird strikes across Nigeria between January and September last year.
The airline’s Chairman and CEO, Allen Onyema, had earlier emphasized that even a single strike could ground an aircraft for weeks. “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,” he said.
Onyema noted that losses from such incidents compound other operational challenges facing Nigerian airlines, including heavy taxation and logistical constraints.
