In a statement posted on , the airline insisted that no passenger was abandoned and maintained that its actions were guided strictly by safety procedures.

The management said a viral social media video claiming passengers were left stranded without support or communication “does not accurately represent the full situation surrounding the disruption.”

According to Air Peace, the flight was impacted by a bird strike, which it described as a recognised force majeure occurrence in aviation that required the aircraft to be grounded immediately for safety inspections.

“The affected flight experienced a bird strike necessitating the immediate grounding of the aircraft for comprehensive safety inspections in line with global aviation standards,” the statement read, adding that “safety is not negotiable, and under no circumstance would we operate an aircraft without the required safety clearance.”

The airline said passengers were promptly informed of the incident and the cancellation of the flight, and that arrangements were made for their welfare, including hotel accommodation at the Hilton London Gatwick.

However, it acknowledged that certain operational challenges affected passenger handling, especially in relation to baggage retrieval.

“We encountered additional operational constraints, including airport congestion and delays from ground handling services responsible for baggage retrieval,” it stated.

Air Peace clarified that baggage handling at international airports is managed by third-party ground handling companies and is not directly controlled by the airline.

“Baggage handling at international airports is managed by designated ground handling companies and as such, Air Peace does not exercise direct control over these processes,” it added.

The airline strongly denied allegations that passengers were abandoned, insisting that communication was maintained throughout the disruption.

“At no point were passengers abandoned. Communication was maintained with all affected passengers, and every effort was made to ensure their welfare,” it said, noting that accommodation was provided while arrangements were underway to deploy another aircraft.

Air Peace also criticised the backlash it has received, describing it as excessive and unjustified given the safety-related nature of the incident.

“We find the ongoing negative hounding of our airline over a safety-driven, force majeure incident to be shocking and unwarranted,” it stated, while noting that the flight captain kept passengers updated throughout the process.

While acknowledging the inconvenience caused, the airline urged for understanding, stressing that aviation operations are complex and cannot be treated as instant processes.

“We recognise that aviation disruptions can be distressing; however, aviation operations are not ‘plug and play’,” it said, noting the involvement of multiple stakeholders and strict safety regulations.

Reaffirming its commitment, Air Peace said it remains dedicated to passenger safety, comfort, and welfare, adding that it will continue to improve its processes to better handle unexpected disruptions.