An Air Peace flight en route to Lagos from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was abruptly halted on the runway on Thursday morning due to suspected technical issues, reportedly caused by a bird strike. The incident, which occurred just before takeoff, led to passenger panic, with some taking to social media to share their experiences.

Human rights lawyer Inihebe Effiong was among those on board and described the situation on his X handle, stating that the 6:30 am flight was “forcefully” halted during taxiing. Effiong posted, “While taxiing on the runway and just before takeoff, our Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos was stopped forcefully, resulting in panic and screams from some passengers.” He added that the captain attributed the incident to a bird strike, raising questions about the effectiveness of recent bird strike prevention equipment procured by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Effiong noted, “Thankfully, whatever happened did not occur after takeoff, which could have been scarier. I am wondering if there is bird detection radar technology at Abuja’s domestic wing.”

Another passenger, speaking anonymously, confirmed the event and suggested that the airline needs to be more vigilant about aircraft maintenance, doubting that a bird strike was the cause.

Air Peace released an official statement through its Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, confirming the bird strike and apologizing for the inconvenience to passengers. “We have deployed a replacement aircraft for the affected flight to minimize disruption and ensure that passengers can continue their journeys promptly,” Ndiulo stated, urging passengers for their understanding as the incident might affect subsequent flights.

The airline has since arranged for an alternate aircraft to transport the impacted passengers, ensuring minimal delays and resumption of service.