Flight services operated by Air Peace were again disrupted on Thursday following a bird strike involving one of its aircraft at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Omagwa, Port Harcourt.
In a statement, Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, said the incident occurred in the morning and had a ripple effect on the airline’s flight operations across its network.
Bird strikes remain a major challenge for indigenous airlines, with operators reportedly losing more than ₦20 billion annually to such incidents, underscoring the growing operational and financial strain on local carriers.
Just last week, United Nigeria Airlines grounded some of its network following bird strike incident at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
The aircraft, an Airbus 320, had departed Asaba International Airport in Delta State for Lagos before the incident.
The incident occurred as the pilot was preparing to land the aircraft at the airport. Two birds were found sucked into the aircraft.
Osifo-Whiskey stated that Thursday’s incident occurred when one of its aircraft operating the Lagos–Port Harcourt route struck a bird on arrival at the airport.
He emphasised, forced the aircraft to be grounded for mandatory safety and technical inspections.
He emphasised that this had caused delays to several flights on the airline’s network, as operational adjustments were made to ensure passenger safety and regulatory compliance.
He declared that the bird strike was unforeseen, but required immediate action in line with aviation safety procedures.
He expressed the airline’s regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers, noting that bird strikes remain a persistent and largely unavoidable challenge in aviation operations, particularly in airport environments.
“This has necessitated checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers of subsequent flights on our network.
He expressed the airline’s deep sympathy with passengers affected by the incident, noting that efforts were ongoing to minimise disruptions across its services.
He further reaffirmed Air Peace’s commitment to safety, assuring that the airline would always prioritise thorough inspections and operational safety over strict adherence to flight schedules
