Passengers were left in panic on Monday when the windshield of an Air Peace Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft reportedly cracked upon landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The incident, which occurred as the plane touched down, caused concern among passengers and aviation staff. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore was among those onboard.
A witness at the airport, identified as Funmi, described the situation as frightening and expressed disappointment that the airline did not provide immediate clarification about the cause of the cracked windshield.
Efforts to reach Abdullahi Musa, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages.
Bimbo Olajide, spokesperson for the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), indicated that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would handle the matter since the NSIB investigates accidents and serious incidents, while this event is classified as a minor incident.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, promised to provide information after consulting with his team but did not follow up before press time.
When questioned about the cracked windshield, Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, denied any compromise to passenger safety, stating that the situation was a routine technical issue. She expressed frustration with negative press coverage, noting that British Airways had recently experienced engine issues in Lagos that went unreported.
Olajide clarified, “There was no shattered screen, and passenger safety was never at risk. The incident was a minor snag, and all necessary safety protocols were followed.”
An unnamed source within the airline confirmed that the windshield had cracked, not shattered, and that the aircraft had been temporarily grounded for safety reasons.