In a bizarre and alarming runway incident, an Air Peace aircraft collided with a large antelope at the Asaba International Airport on Saturday, leaving the animal decimated and the aircraft significantly damaged, sparking flight delays and safety concerns across the aviation sector.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirmed the incident in a statement released via X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, describing the event as a stark reminder of aviation challenges unrelated to airline operations.
“Monitoring reports yesterday indicated that an Air Peace aircraft ran into a large antelope, decimating the animal and leaving the aircraft AOG (aircraft on ground),” Achimugu said.
As a result of the incident, the affected aircraft was taken out of service, with flights scheduled on that aircraft grounded, leaving passengers stranded and visibly agitated. Engineers have been deployed to assess the extent of the damage and restore operations.
The NCAA spokesperson was quick to note that while this was not the fault of the airline, it highlighted the urgent need for tighter airside wildlife control at Nigerian airports.
“This explainer is not to excuse airlines when they fail in their duty to passengers,” he added. “But it’s important to recognize when delays are due to factors beyond airline control.”
Nevertheless, Achimugu stressed that airlines are still obligated to provide timely information, care, refunds, or alternative arrangements in line with aviation consumer protection regulations. Sanctions could follow if such obligations are not met, regardless of the cause of delay.
The antelope collision incident couldn’t have come at a worse time for Air Peace.
It follows closely on the heels of a warning from the NCAA just last week, urging the carrier to cut back on its operations to match its available fleet.
The aviation authority had expressed concerns over increasing complaints about the airline’s flight delays and cancellations.
In response, Air Peace had denied claims of fleet inadequacy, stating that flight delays were often tied to safety and operational concerns, not a shortage of aircraft.
Aviation experts are now calling for a comprehensive review of wildlife hazard management at regional airports like Asaba, where fencing, surveillance, and patrol systems are reportedly inadequate.
The incident also reignites questions about the readiness and safety protocols of Nigeria’s smaller airports, many of which face criticism for lax perimeter control and insufficient infrastructure investment.
As investigations continue and engineers work to restore the damaged aircraft, Saturday’s antelope tragedy serves as a strange but serious warning: Runway safety is no game, not for man, machine, or beast.
Credit: TheCable except headline
