NCAA summons Air Peace over flight disruptions, passenger complaints

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday summoned Air Peace over a series of unexplained flight disruptions and growing passenger complaints.

The development followed reports from passengers on the Heathrow–Abuja flight, who were allegedly rerouted through Gatwick and Lagos before being left stranded in Lagos after the aircraft reportedly returned due to a cracked windshield.

According to the NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, the incident, alongside other complaints relating to delayed refunds, compensations and inadequate passenger care, has triggered the intervention of the Authority’s Consumer Protection Department.

The aviation regulator stated that it would not tolerate situations where paying passengers are abandoned without proper assistance.

While reaffirming its support for domestic airlines, the NCAA stressed that all operators must adhere strictly to regulatory standards guiding aviation operations in the country.

“The Authority continues to support domestic carriers, but we hold all operators to the strictest standards,” the NCAA said.

The agency further disclosed that it has commenced an investigation into the reported disruptions, noting that appropriate action would be taken based on the outcome of the findings in line with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.

Achimugu reiterated NCAA’s role as the sole regulatory agency for civil aviation in Nigeria, emphasizing its commitment to protecting the rights and interests of all stakeholders in the aviation sector.