Passengers experienced a moment of panic on Monday when the windshield of an Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft operated by Air Peace cracked as it landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The incident, which occurred as the plane touched down, caused alarm among both the passengers and airport staff who witnessed the event.
Among the travelers on the flight was human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore, who was en route to Abuja. A bystander identified as Funmi described the situation as frightening and expressed her frustration with the airline’s failure to provide an immediate explanation for the cracked windshield.
Efforts to contact Abdullahi Musa, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, proved unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages regarding the matter.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Bimbo Olajide, indicated that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would be better suited to address the incident. The NSIB is responsible for enhancing transportation safety and conducting detailed investigations into transport accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria.
Olajide clarified that the NSIB typically investigates accidents and serious incidents but not minor occurrences like this one, which falls under the NCAA’s jurisdiction rather than being classified as a serious incident or accident.
When reached for comment, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said he would confer with his team and follow up, but no feedback was received as of press time. Additionally, when the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide, was asked about the cracked windshield, she asserted that passenger safety was never compromised.
Responding angrily to questions, Olajide dismissed claims of passenger panic and accused the media of quickly highlighting negative news about local airlines, while ignoring similar issues with international carriers.
Olajide insisted that the situation was simply a minor technical snag, not a shattered screen, and that all necessary safety protocols were followed. “Our top priority is the safety of our equipment and passengers,” she affirmed.
A source within the airline, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid breaching internal policies, confirmed that the windshield did crack, but it was not shattered as some reports suggested. The aircraft has since been temporarily grounded to ensure safety.
