An Air Peace flight from Owerri to Abuja made an emergency return after a bird strike damaged the pilot’s windshield.
No injuries were reported, and passengers are awaiting a replacement aircraft.
Passengers traveling on an Air Peace flight from Owerri to Abuja on Sunday morning, June 8, had a frightening encounter in the air when the aircraft was struck by a bird, damaging the windshield on the pilot’s side and forcing the plane to return to base.
The aircraft had just taken off from Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport when the bird collided with the cockpit area. Following standard safety procedures, the pilot immediately declared an emergency and safely returned the plane to the airport in Owerri, prioritizing the safety of all passengers and crew members.
A passenger onboard, Mr. Okezie Erondu, shared his experience via Facebook shortly after the incident. He wrote, “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.”
No injuries were reported, and all passengers disembarked safely upon landing. According to airport sources, Air Peace has begun making arrangements to send another aircraft to complete the journey to Abuja.
Bird strikes are a known risk in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing phases. They can lead to serious damage if they impact sensitive parts of the aircraft. In this case, the windshield was significantly damaged, but the pilot’s calm and professional response ensured that everyone remained safe.
As of the time this report was filed, Air Peace had not issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, the airline’s swift response and commitment to passenger safety have drawn praise from aviation observers and the public alike.
