The delay in flights from Abuja was attributed to adverse weather conditions caused by harmattan haze. In response, Air Peace deployed three aircraft to facilitate the transportation of the waiting passengers.
According to the airline's statement, when one of the aircraft finally arrived, the passengers, who had been waiting for approximately two hours, were unable to adhere to the boarding procedures. This led to a situation where security personnel struggled to manage the crowd as passengers surged towards the aircraft, resulting in the chaotic scene captured in the video.
Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, the airline's Head of Communications, noted that the delays were due to poor weather, particularly harmattan haze and fog, which are typical for this season. To minimize disruptions for travelers, Air Peace arranged for three aircraft to evacuate all passengers. However, during the boarding process, the passengers overwhelmed both the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and boarding staff, leading to the rush onto the airside.
“Duty managers and ramp officials then had to mount barricades in front of the motorised step to differentiate passengers on flights,” the statement said.
“While we empathise with you, our loyal customer, we condemn in very strong terms the misinformation, insults, and deliberate falsehood disseminated in the video post,” the statement added.
Air Peace stated that the representations shown in the video do not align with its values or operational practices.
“We appreciate your understanding and patience during this period and sincerely regret any inconvenience these delays may have caused you. The safety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority.
“At Air Peace, safety is not just a priority but a fundamental precondition for all our activities. We remain committed to maintaining safe and timely operations,” the statement added.