Air Peace on Saturday offered clarifications on the status of its flight on December 20, 2024, affirming that at no time did passengers rush to board its aircraft without complying with the operational procedures spelt out by aviation authorities.
The airline said videos circulating online were designed by some faceless individuals to create confusion and distract the management and regulators, including stakeholders.
A statement signed by the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo clarified that videos circulating amount to a false claim, which is not only mischievous but misleading.
The statement read in part: “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.
“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.”
Ndiulo said on the day in question, there were flight delays because of poor weather conditions, specifically harmattan-induced haze, and fog, which is common at this time of the year.
He said such inclement weather condition significantly limits visibility and impacts flight operations nationwide.
To ensure that passengers continued their journeys with minimum disruptions, Air Peace, Ajiulo said deployed three aircraft to Abuja to evacuate all the passengers.
He explained: “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.
Watch video below
A trending video capturing the moment passengers were struggling to board an Air Peace aircraft.
— DAILY GIST (@dailygistonline) December 21, 2024
Passengers were seen pushing themselves in a bid to board the plane with the airline staff obviously overwhelmed. pic.twitter.com/GaY82DFd41
