Chaos in Warri as Air Peace delays flight for 6hrs, abandons passengers’ luggage in Lagos

There was chaos in Warri on Wednesday as most passengers aboard an Air Peace flight who boarded a flight from Lagos to Warri Airport were told their luggage will arrive on Thursday.

The visibly angry passengers told DAILY INDEPENDENT correspondent that the flight, P47210 which was initially scheduled for 7:30 am was delayed for six hours and changed to 1:30 pm.

They said despite that, the flight left Lagos at exactly 2:30 pm.

On getting to Warri, while waiting for their checked-in luggage, an official of the airline informed them that the luggage was left behind in Lagos and will arrive the next day.

Speaking with DAILY INDEPENDENT, one of the passengers, a lady, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the airline did not inform them earlier about the time change and also failed to notify them that the luggage was left behind in Lagos.

”I left my home this morning as early as 5 am so as to arrive at the airport early because the flight is initially scheduled for 7:30 am. On getting to the airport, we were informed that the departure time has changed to 1:30 pm. Many of us were angry and questioned the officials of the airline on why they didn’t inform us earlier. We risked our lives to arrive at the airport early.

“Even the 1:30 pm time was not adhered to. We left Lagos by 2:30 pm. On arrival in Warri, an official of the airline told us that only a few luggage were on the plane and the others will arrive the next day (Thursday). We were at the airport for more than six hours and nobody informed us that our luggage will be left behind”.

”They were so rude and unprofessional. Right now, all I have with me is my phone and charger. Every other item are in the luggage and I have nobody in Warri” she said.

When contacted, the spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa, who confirmed the development said the passengers were informed that some of the luggage will be left behind in Lagos because of weight restriction and safety concerns.

He said all the passengers agreed before the flight departed Lagos.

“We had weight restriction on that aircraft and the passengers were advised about it. It was announced and they all agreed to it before the flight departed. They were all briefed that there was a weight restriction.

“Just 25 pieces of luggage was dropped. Some luggage went with the flight. But the truth is that they were all informed that there is weight restriction and in the interest of safety, that decision has to be made.”

However, speaking to our correspondent, another passenger said the spokesman was economical with the truth as they were not informed. (Daily Independent)