Bird Strike Forces Air Peace Flight to Abort Journey, Crew Returns to Owerri

Passengers aboard an Air Peace flight from Owerri to Abuja experienced a mid-air scare on Sunday morning when the aircraft suffered a bird strike, causing significant damage to the pilot’s windshield, ABN TV reports.

The incident forced the pilot to execute an emergency return to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, prioritizing the safety of all on board.

One of the passengers, Mr. Okezie Erondu, shared the experience on his Facebook page shortly after the incident. In his words:

“Boarded Air Peace from Owerri to Abuja this Sunday morning but our aircraft was hit by a bird (bird strike), seriously damaging the windshield of 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. Waiting for a replacement,” he wrote.

According to reports, the bird strike occurred shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilot to declare an emergency and safely navigate the aircraft back to the airport. There were no injuries reported among the passengers or crew members.

Sources at the airport confirmed that Air Peace is currently arranging a replacement aircraft to transport the affected passengers to Abuja.

Bird strikes remain one of the most common natural hazards to aviation and can cause substantial damage to aircraft. The quick and professional handling of the situation by the Air Peace crew has drawn commendation from aviation experts and the travelling public.

As of the time of filing this report, Air Peace was yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.