Air Peace New E2 Jet Damaged by Ground Handler, Disrupting Flights Until January

Air Peace Airlines faced a significant operational setback on Friday when a ground handler’s conveyor belt struck the engine of a brand-new Embraer E190-E2 aircraft at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), just as passengers were boarding for departure.

Eyewitness accounts and social media footage circulating online show the incident unfolding around midday, with the conveyor—used for loading baggage—colliding with the jet’s engine cowling. The damage appears extensive, compromising the engine casing and potentially requiring full replacement. Passengers were promptly deboarded for safety, but the mishap has cascaded into widespread disruptions.

Colossal Financial and Operational Toll
This E2, one of Air Peace’s newest additions to its fleet, was fully booked across nine sectors through January 15, 2026, a peak travel period spanning the Christmas and New Year holidays. The airline now grapples with reassigning passengers, issuing refunds, and providing compensations—challenges compounded by Nigeria’s stringent aviation consumer protection rules.

Industry estimates peg the engine cowling replacement at approximately $3.5 million, with the full engine costing up to $18 million. These figures exclude ancillary expenses like foreign currency imports for parts from Embraer in Brazil, rigorous inspections by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and lost revenue from grounded operations. Recent online reports from aviation blogs like Simple Flying and local outlets such as Vanguard News confirm Air Peace’s vulnerability to such incidents; just months ago, a bird strike on another aircraft incurred over $3 million in repairs, delaying service for a full month while awaiting a manufacturer-supplied cowling dent replacement.

NCAA spokesman Michael Achimugu addressed the incident in a detailed statement shared across X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the damage stemmed from “poorly trained ground handling personnel” rather than airline negligence. “Air Peace has suffered a lot of these technical issues through no fault of theirs,” Achimugu noted, urging passengers to exercise understanding. He revealed that Air Peace maintains two standby aircraft—a commendable buffer—but both were already deployed to mitigate prior disruptions, leaving limited options. Even if available, these alternatives have lower seating capacities than the 114-passenger E2.

Calls for Accountability and Regulatory Overhaul
Achimugu’s remarks spotlight systemic flaws in Nigeria’s ground handling sector, dominated by firms like NAHCO and Royal Air Maroc Ground Services at MMIA. “We need to start naming and shaming inefficient handlers whose carelessness costs airlines reputational, financial, and technical damage,” he declared. The NCAA plans to tighten regulations, imposing heavy sanctions on service providers for such lapses, while insisting airlines should not bear sole responsibility.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest domestic carrier with a fleet of over 20 aircraft, has rapidly expanded since acquiring these E2 jets in 2023. Online searches reveal this is not isolated; the airline reported similar ground handling errors in 2024, alongside weather-related and technical glitches. No official statement from Air Peace was available by press time, but sources indicate technicians are assessing the full extent of damage, with repairs likely sidelining the jet for weeks.

Impact on Passengers and Industry
Hundreds of passengers now face delays or cancellations, particularly on high-demand Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Port Harcourt, and Lagos-Enugu routes. Social media buzz under hashtags like #AirPeaceDamage reflects frustration, though many express sympathy given the external cause. Achimugu reiterated: “Passengers should be informed honestly about disruptions from these unfortunate scenarios.”

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This episode underscores broader challenges in Nigeria’s aviation sector, where ground handling inefficiencies contribute to 15-20% of delays, per NCAA data. As Air Peace invests heavily in fleet modernization to compete with international rivals, such incidents threaten its growth trajectory and erode public trust.

For affected passengers, Air Peace has promised real-time updates via its app and website, with options for rebooking or vouchers. Travelers are advised to monitor flight statuses closely amid the holiday rush.