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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has publicly criticised Air Peace after she and several passengers were left stranded for hours at London’s Gatwick Airport amid a major flight disruption.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, reportedly left travellers—including elderly passengers—without their luggage, accommodation, or clear communication from the airline for nearly 10 hours.
Akindele took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration, describing the experience as distressing and poorly managed.
According to her, passengers had been waiting since about 6:30am after being informed that the disruption was caused by a bird strike affecting the aircraft’s operations.
“Air Peace, this is unacceptable. Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30am at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication,” she wrote.
She added that although the airline had promised hotel arrangements after hours of delay, the situation did not improve as passengers remained stuck without their luggage or accommodation.
“After hours of delay, we were told there was a bird strike and promised a hotel. Hours later, people are still sitting at baggage claim hungry, exhausted, and without their bags,” she stated.
In a follow-up post, Akindele shared a video from the airport showing frustrated passengers still waiting with no resolution in sight.
She noted that by the afternoon, the situation had worsened, with travellers still left without basic support.
“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,” she added.
The viral complaint quickly drew public attention online, with many users expressing concern over the handling of the situation and the welfare of affected passengers.
In response, Air Peace issued a statement acknowledging the disruption and apologising for the inconvenience caused.
The airline explained that the delay was due to operational challenges beyond its immediate control, including the reported bird strike incident.
“Such actions are never intentional as we prioritise safety and operational efficiency, and while we strive for on-time departures, certain factors beyond our control can sometimes cause delays,” the airline said.
Air Peace further assured passengers that efforts were being made to resolve the situation and provide necessary support to those affected.
The airline also appealed for patience, stating that staff were working to ensure passengers receive assistance as quickly as possible.
Despite the apology, there was no immediate confirmation that stranded passengers had received their luggage or been relocated to hotel accommodations at the time of filing this report.
The incident has sparked renewed discussion on airline customer service standards, particularly in handling long delays and providing timely updates to passengers during emergencies.
Funke Akindele’s public reaction has also drawn significant attention, given her influence in the Nigerian entertainment industry and her frequent travels for film projects and international engagements.
As of now, passengers remain hopeful that the situation will be fully resolved and normal service restored.
Watch her speak below…
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