A Lagos bound Air Peace flight was on Thursday morning abruptly cancelled as a result of engine failure at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The flight, scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m., was taxiing on the runway and ready for takeoff when the unexpected incident occurred.
Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who was on board, took to his social media handle to recount the experience.
He said, “While taxing on the runway and just before takeoff, our Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos scheduled for 6:30 AM today was stopped forcefully, resulting in panic and screams by some passengers.
“The captain attributed the incident to a bird strike. We have been deboarded to await either a replacement or repair of the aircraft.
“Thankfully, whatever happened did not occur after takeoff. It would have been scarier.”
However, in a swift response, Air Peace replaced the faulty aircraft, and passengers were reboarded within 30 minutes.
On his part, Inibehe Effiong raised concern about the implementation of effective bird control measures at the airport.
Besides Effiong, other passengers narrated their ordeal on social media.
One of them attributed the grounded flight to an engine failure.