Victor EzejaLargest Nigerian Carrier, Air Peace, says the chaotic aircraft boarding video and the accompanying narrative being circulated on social media were the handiwork of enemies working hard to disparage the airline and mislead the flying public.
The airline said the incident captured in the video happened at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the boarding of passengers on flight P47123 bound for Lagos.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, Air Peace described the report that followed the video as “false, mischievous and misleading.”
“Our attention has been drawn to a video circulating online and on social media on the boarding of Air Peace passengers on flight P47123 from Abuja to Lagos on December 20, 2024. This report is false, mischievous and misleading,” part of the statement read.
“The false video post was designed by some faceless individuals with the intent of misleading the flying public to cause confusion and distraction for management of Air Peace and its stakeholders including the regulators.”
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Narrating what transpired that was captured in the video, Ndiulo said there were flight delays because of poor weather conditions, caused by harmattan haze and fog, which is common at this time of the year, and which significantly limits visibility and impacts flight operations nationwide.
“To ensure that passengers continued their journeys with minimum disruptions, Air Peace deployed three aircraft to Abuja to evacuate all the passengers. While processing them for their flights at the boarding gate, passengers overwhelmed both the FAAN and boarding officers and rushed to the airside. Duty managers and ramp officials then had to mount barricades in front of the motorized step to differentiate passengers on flights.
“While we empathize with you, our loyal customer, we condemn in very strong terms the misinformation, insults and deliberate falsehood disseminated in the video post. Such representations are not reflective of our values or operations.
“There is no truth in the allegation, and we urge the public to disregard the report in all its entirety.”
The airline said it appreciate the understanding and patience of customers during this period and “sincerely regret any inconvenience these delays may have caused you. The safety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
