Passengers aboard an Air Peace flight, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, narrowly escaped disaster after their aircraft struggled to land in Lagos.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as the plane hovered erratically for 30 minutes. Obi remained calm, reassuring frightened passengers amid collective prayers.
Passengers onboard an Air Peace flight, including Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, narrowly escaped a terrifying ordeal on Tuesday when their aircraft struggled to land at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport’s local wing in Lagos.
According to multiple aviation sources, the flight Air Peace P47123 had departed Abuja for Lagos with over 100 passengers onboard. Notably, Obi, known for his modest lifestyle, was flying in the economy section like many other Nigerians on the journey.
The aircraft was originally scheduled to take off at 12:35 p.m., but experienced a brief delay, eventually lifting off at 12:59 p.m. The flight, expected to land at 1:55 p.m., instead touched down around 2:25 p.m. following a harrowing 30-minute episode that left passengers shaken.
Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that the aircraft hovered erratically for several minutes as the pilot struggled to gain control during the final descent. Eyewitness accounts from the passengers described a distressing atmosphere in the cabin, with many fearing the worst.
“It was terrifying,” said one passenger who asked not to be named. “The plane kept circling. At some point, it felt like we were going to crash into the rooftops below. People started screaming, praying, and even rebuking the devil. It was pure chaos.”
While tension mounted among the passengers, eyewitnesses commended Peter Obi for remaining calm throughout the ordeal. Several passengers said he quietly reassured those around him, encouraging them to stay hopeful and keep faith that the plane would land safely.
A mother of two recounted how she almost gave in to despair as the aircraft struggled in midair. “I held my children close and started crying. I had lost hope. But Peter Obi remained composed. He kept saying, ‘It will be fine.’ That gave many of us a strange sense of peace.”
Passengers also praised another man on board, Dr. Benson Onuwaje, a businessman seated in the first-class section, who took the bold step of standing up to lead prayers mid-flight.
“Dr. Onuwaje called on God loudly and confidently. His prayer echoed across the plane. He was a pillar of strength for everyone at that moment,” said another passenger, Mathew Adekunle.
Despite the trauma, the plane eventually landed safely, greeted by a chorus of relief-filled prayers and applause. Airport staff rushed in to assist shaken passengers as they disembarked.
Obi, who recently donated ₦20 million to flood victims in Niger State, was on his way from several community visits in Northern Nigeria. He had briefly returned to Abuja before embarking on the flight to Lagos for a scheduled political engagement.
“This incident is a clear reminder of how fragile life can be,” a passenger added. “It also shows the importance of proper aviation safety oversight in Nigeria. If anything had gone wrong, it could have plunged the country into mourning.”
Notably, this is not the first time Obi has experienced turbulence in the air. Back in May 2013, he was on a flight from Lagos to Asaba when weather conditions forced the pilot to abandon landing and return to Lagos, sparking similar fears among passengers.
Thankfully, Tuesday’s incident did not end in tragedy. But for many onboard, it was a brush with fate they will never forget.
