Passengers Panic as Air Peace Flight Windscreen Breaks During Landing in Abuja

Passengers aboard an Air Peace Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft were thrown into panic on Monday when the plane’s windshield broke during landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The incident occurred as the aircraft touched down, causing alarm among passengers and airport staff. Notable among those onboard was human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore, who was traveling to Abuja.

Witnesses at the airport described the scene as frightening. One passenger, who identified herself as Funmi, expressed her dissatisfaction with Air Peace for not providing an explanation regarding the windshield incident.

Efforts to reach Abdullahi Musa, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.

Bimbo Olajide, spokesperson for the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), indicated that the incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), stating, “The NSIB investigates accidents and serious incidents, but this development is classified as an incident.” She emphasized that the NCAA would handle the matter.

When contacted, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, assured that he would follow up with his team but had not provided further information by press time.

Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, responded angrily when approached for comments, insisting that passenger safety was not compromised. “What panic? Can you verify that? This is just a normal snag, and necessary safety measures were implemented. The safety of our equipment and passengers is our top priority,” she stated.

However, an insider from the airline, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the aircraft had been temporarily grounded to ensure safety, clarifying that the windshield had only cracked rather than shattered as initially reported.