An Air Peace flight was temporarily grounded after it struck an antelope on the runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, causing delays to scheduled operations. The unusual incident occurred while the aircraft was taxiing in preparation for takeoff.
The collision killed the animal instantly, and the plane was subsequently classified as “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG), pending a full inspection to ensure its airworthiness.
Confirming the situation on Sunday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), explained that the aircraft was removed from service for safety checks. He noted, “Monitoring updates confirmed that an Air Peace plane struck a large antelope, killing it and grounding the aircraft.”
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Achimugu acknowledged that the incident would understandably frustrate affected passengers, but he emphasized that such events are beyond an airline’s control. “This is a clear example of disruptions not caused by airlines, whether domestic or international,” he said.
However, he clarified that even in such unforeseen circumstances, airlines are still required to keep passengers informed and provide compensation or care where appropriate. Failure to do so, he added, could still result in sanctions.
