A Lagos to Port Harcourt flight operated by Air Peace was disrupted on Thursday after the aircraft involved was hit by a bird upon landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, explaining that the impact triggered mandatory safety checks on the affected aircraft before it could be cleared for further operations.
According to the airline, passengers scheduled for subsequent flights were transferred to another aircraft to ensure their travel plans were not significantly affected.
Air Peace said it regretted the disruption and expressed sympathy to affected passengers, adding that efforts were underway to reduce inconvenience caused by the incident. The airline also assured that safety checks were being carried out in line with aviation standards before the aircraft would return to service.
Bird strike incidents have become a recurring challenge for airlines operating in Nigeria, often leading to delays, cancellations and additional maintenance costs.
In December 2025, Air Peace revealed that it recorded about 49 bird strike incidents across its operations between January and September of that year. The airline warned that even a single bird strike could ground an aircraft for an extended period due to the level of inspection and repairs required.
The airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, had previously explained that bird strikes remain one of the most serious operational risks in the aviation sector. He noted that such incidents often lead to expensive repairs and prolonged disruptions to flight schedules.
Onyema also highlighted that the challenge adds to other difficulties faced by Nigerian airlines, including high operational costs and regulatory pressures.
The latest disruption adds to growing concerns within the aviation industry about wildlife hazards around airports and the need for improved preventive measures to protect aircraft and ensure smoother flight operations.
