Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, is facing possible widespread flight delays and cancellations across its domestic network after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft was severely damaged by ground handling equipment at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 in Lagos on July 14, 2026.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night after a Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) 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 collision tore into the aircraft, rendering it completely unserviceable and forcing its immediate withdrawal from operations.
According to a statement from Air Peace on Wednesday, said the impact left the aircraft “totally unserviceable,” forcing the airline to adjust its flight schedule as the affected aircraft had been assigned to operate multiple services in the coming days.
It said, “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.
“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.
“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.”
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from NAHCO were unsuccessful, as the company declined to comment on the incident.
