An Air Peace aircraft was temporarily grounded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after it struck an antelope while taxiing on the runway, causing significant flight disruptions.
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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident, noting that the collision was unexpected and had an impact on scheduled flights. The authority said the aircraft was rendered temporarily unusable due to the severity of the impact, which also led to the animal’s death.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, said, “This kind of unforeseen runway intrusion is capable of causing serious delays, and passengers are right to feel frustrated.” He added that despite the incident being beyond the airline’s control, Air Peace must still fulfill its responsibilities to affected passengers, including timely communication, refunds, and other support.
The NCAA has warned that it will take regulatory action against Air Peace if the airline fails to meet these obligations.
An airline source downplayed the incident, describing it as minor and noting that standard safety checks and maintenance were immediately carried out.
Meanwhile, the NCAA has launched a full investigation to determine how the antelope accessed the runway. The authority said measures would be put in place to prevent future occurrences and to enhance safety at the airport for both passengers and wildlife.
