An Air Peace aircraft struck and killed a large antelope at the Asaba Airport on Saturday, resulting in considerable damage to the plane and causing flight disruptions.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirmed the incident in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
“Monitoring reports yesterday indicated that an Air Peace aircraft ran into a large antelope, decimating the animal and leaving the aircraft AOG (aircraft on ground),” Achimugu stated.
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He added that engineers were on-site to inspect and repair the aircraft, but acknowledged that affected passengers would likely be frustrated by the resulting delays.
Achimugu emphasized that the incident was beyond the airline’s control and served as an example of how external factors can disrupt airline operations. However, he clarified that this does not absolve airlines from their obligations to passengers.
“Airlines are still required to provide timely updates, refunds, and necessary care to affected travelers,” he said, warning that failure to do so could attract regulatory penalties.
The incident comes just a week after the NCAA cautioned Air Peace over frequent flight delays and cancellations. NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo had advised the airline to scale its operations to match the number of aircraft available.
Air Peace responded by attributing the delays and cancellations to safety-related issues, refuting claims of an aircraft shortage.
