Air Peace has confirmed that one of its flights, operating on the Lagos–Owerri route, made an air return on Saturday morning, 21 June 2025, after experiencing a bird strike shortly after take-off.

The affected flight, P47150, returned to Lagos for safety checks, leading to disruptions across parts of the airline’s network.

In a statement issued by the management, the airline apologised for the inconvenience and appealed for understanding from passengers. “We sincerely empathise with our passengers over the inconvenience caused and appeal for your patience and understanding as we work diligently to minimise disruptions,” the statement read.

Air Peace reiterated its safety-first approach, stating: “The safety of our passengers and crew continues to be our top priority.”

Bird strikes are known aviation hazards and typically require aircraft to return for inspection if damage is suspected.

The airline has faced similar occurrences in the past. In one such previous incident, a passenger flying from Owerri to Abuja recounted their experience on Facebook: “Our aircraft was hit by a bird (bird strike), seriously damaging the windshield on the pilot’s side. The pilot and Air Peace took a very wise decision by bringing us back to Owerri. I thank the pilot and Air Peace, but most importantly, I thank God for ensuring our safety.” (AriseNews TV, excluding headline)