Unacceptable’, Funke Akindele raises alarm over flight delay at London airport

Nollywood filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has called out Air Peace after passengers were stranded for nearly 10 hours at London Gatwick Airport without their luggage, hotel accommodation, or clear communication from the airline.

Funke Akindele took to X on Friday to demand immediate action, revealing that passengers had been waiting since 6:30am with little information after being told a bird strike caused the disruption.

Air Peace, this is unacceptable. Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30am at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication.

“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 wrote.

The filmmaker said the situation had taken a toll on vulnerable passengers, noting that elderly travellers were struggling while families remained exhausted after hours of uncertainty.

She urged the airline to immediately release passengers’ luggage and fulfil its promise of providing hotel accommodation.

In a follow-up post shared alongside a video from the scene, Akindele said there had been no improvement in the situation hours later.

“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 wrote.

Responding to her initial post, Air Peace expressed regret over the incident and attributed the disruption to circumstances beyond its control.

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.

It added that its team was working to assist affected passengers and appealed for patience.