Funke Akindele Stranded at Gatwick by Air Peace Bird Strike

Nigerian Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele was among dozens of passengers stranded at London's Gatwick Airport on Friday after an Air Peace flight faced a prolonged delay starting around 6:30 a.m., prompting complaints over poor communication and lack of support.

The disruption stemmed from a bird strike on the aircraft, which required safety inspections and halted departure. Passengers, including elderly travelers and families, waited for hours without access to their checked luggage, food, or clear updates from airline staff. Akindele detailed the ordeal in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, noting that travelers were left sitting on the floor at the baggage claim area, exhausted and hungry.

"Passengers including elderly people have been stranded since 630 AM at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication," Akindele wrote. She added that airline representatives had promised hotel accommodations after informing passengers of the bird strike, but by mid-afternoon, no such arrangements had materialized. "Elderly passengers are struggling. Families are tired. No clear updates. No support," she posted. In a later update around 4 p.m., Akindele reiterated...