Air Peace announces flight disruptions as NAHCO equipment damages aircraft

Air Peace has announced disruptions to its flight operations following damage to one of its aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 in Lagos.

In a statement issued by the airline on Wednesday, the aircraft became unserviceable after a baggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) collided with one of its engines.

The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft completed Flight P47427 from Kano on Tuesday night, with passengers already safely disembarked.

This marks another similar occurrence, as NAHCO equipment reportedly damaged an Air Peace aircraft on December 26, 2025.

Air Peace stated that the impact left the aircraft “totally unserviceable,” forcing the airline to revise its flight schedule, as the affected plane had been assigned to operate several services in the coming days.

Images released by the airline showed the damaged section of the aircraft.

The development is expected to affect operations across the network, with the airline warning of delays and possible cancellations while it works to manage the disruption through fleet redeployment.

The airline said, “One of its Airbus A320 aircraft sustained significant damage on the ground today at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Lagos, after a Nigerian Aviation Handling Company baggage conveyor belt vehicle crashed into the aircraft’s engine shortly after the completion of Flight P47427 from Kano and the safe disembarkation of passengers.

“The ground handling equipment belonging to and operated by NAHCO tore into the aircraft and, as such, rendered the aircraft totally unserviceable.”

The airline further noted that the incident has had a considerable impact on its operations, as the aircraft was scheduled to handle multiple flights.

“This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days. Consequently, several scheduled services will experience delays, while some may regrettably be cancelled as we work to mitigate the disruption through fleet adjustments,” the statement read.

Air Peace apologised to passengers whose travel plans may be affected and assured them that efforts were underway to minimise the inconvenience.

The statement reads further, “We sincerely apologise to our esteemed passengers whose travel plans may be affected by this unforeseen ground handling incident. Our operational and customer service teams are actively working to minimise the inconvenience by providing available alternatives and ensuring that affected passengers receive the necessary assistance,” the airline stated.

“At Air Peace, the safety of our passengers, crew, and equipment remains our highest priority. We are working closely with the relevant ground handling company and aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.

“We appreciate the patience, understanding, and continued support of our valued customers as we diligently manage the operational challenges arising from this incident.”

As of press time, NAHCO had yet to respond to the incident, as calls and messages sent to its spokesperson, Tayo Ajakaye, were not returned.