A Lagos-bound Air Peace flight from Abuja scheduled to take off by 6:30 am today was abruptly stopped while taxing on the runway just before takeoff, resulting in serious anxiety and screaming by most of the passengers onboard the aircraft.
The incident, which occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, was reportedly attributed to bird strike by the pilot.
Human rights lawyer and activist, Barr. Inibehe Effiong, who was aboard the aircraft, queried whether there was any bird strike detection radar tracking technology at the domestic wing of the airport, noting that the incident could have been scarier.
Effiong wrote: “While taxing on the runway and just before takeoff, our Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos scheduled for 6:30 AM today was stopped forcefully, resulting in panic and screams by some passengers.
“The captain attributed the incident to a bird strike. We have been de-boarded to await either a replacement or repair of the aircraft. Thankfully, whatever happened did not occur after takeoff. It would have been scarier.
“I am wondering whether there is a bird detection radar tracking technology at the domestic wing of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport”.
It would be recalled that an Air Peace 12:50 pm Benin-Abuja flight early this month, precisely on November 4, made an air return due to a technical snag.
The airline’s management stated that the return to base was a necessary safety procedure.
It clarified: “The aircraft landed in Benin and passengers disembarked normally, while our maintenance team are currently troubleshooting the cause of the snag.”
