Funke Akindele Clashes with Air Peace Over London Passenger Stranding

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has publicly clashed with Air Peace airline after she and several other passengers were left stranded for nearly ten hours at London’s Gatwick Airport, sparking a heated exchange on social media.

The incident occurred on Friday, May 1, 2026, when passengers aboard the airline’s London Gatwick to Lagos service were informed of a delay due to a bird strike involving the aircraft. According to aviation protocols, a bird strike is classified as a force majeure event requiring immediate grounding of the plane for comprehensive safety inspections. While the safety measure is standard, what followed became the source of the controversy.

In a series of posts on her X handle, an angry Akindele detailed the deteriorating conditions at the airport. She revealed that passengers had been waiting since as early as 6:30 in the morning with no clear communication from the airline. “Air Peace, this is unacceptable,” she wrote in her first post. “Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30 AM at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication.”

The actress explained that after many hours, passengers were finally told about the bird strike and promised hotel accommodation. However, those promises quickly evaporated. “After hours of delay, we were told there was a bird strike and promised a hotel,” she continued. “Hours later, people are still sitting at baggage claim hungry, exhausted and without their bags. Elderly passengers are struggling. Families are tired. No clear updates. No support. Release passengers’ luggage immediately and provide the hotel you promised. Do something NOW @flyairpeace.”

When the situation failed to improve, Akindele escalated her criticism with a follow-up post. “Air Peace, what is going on? Since 7AM at London Gatwick Airport and it’s almost 4PM no bags, no hotel, no proper updates. Passengers are stranded. People are tired and hungry. Release the luggage and take care of your passengers NOW.”

Air Peace initially responded directly to Akindele’s complaint on X, expressing empathy while defending its actions. “Dear Funke @funkeakindele, we sincerely empathize with you over this experience and all inconveniences this has caused to your travel plans,” the airline wrote. “Such actions are never intentional as we prioritize safety and operational efficiency, and while we strive for on-time departures, certain factors beyond our control can sometimes cause delays. Rest assured our team are working at the moment to provide all affected passengers with the adequate assistance. Please bear with us during this time.”

However, as the hours stretched on with passengers still stranded at the baggage claim area, the airline later issued a formal statement through its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe. The statement confirmed the bird strike and detailed the airline’s version of events. “We wish to inform our esteemed passengers that our London Gatwick to Lagos service today experienced a bird strike. In line with standard safety protocols, the affected aircraft has been grounded for comprehensive inspection and necessary checks by our engineering team in London.”

Air Peace further clarified that arrangements had been made for passenger comfort, including hotel accommodation at the Hilton London Gatwick. The airline acknowledged, however, that additional operational challenges, including airport congestion and delays from ground handling services, affected the timely retrieval of checked baggage. The airline explained that baggage handling at international airports is managed by designated ground handling companies operating under strict procedures, not directly controlled by airlines.

The airline maintained that at no time were passengers abandoned, insisting that communication was sustained throughout the disruption and that many passengers had already been lodged at the Hilton. It also described the criticism as unwarrounded, stating that timely announcements were made by the flight captain and that proactive steps were taken to ensure passenger safety and welfare.

As of the latest reports, efforts were ongoing to deploy another aircraft to complete the journey to Lagos. Passengers, however, remained unsatisfied with the airline’s response, with many urging Air Peace to modify its mode of operations regarding passenger communication during disruptions. The incident has since sparked broader conversations about passenger welfare and communication standards during international flight delays.