Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, narrowly escaped a near-plane crash on Tuesday, June 3, at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
In a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, the incident was to have involved an Air Peace flight (P47123) carrying over 100 passengers from Abuja, which struggled to land for nearly 30 minutes before finally touching down at about 2:25 p.m., 30 minutes behind schedule.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the aircraft hovered mid-air in what passengers described as a terrifying ordeal. A source disclosed that the pilot appeared to lose control of the aircraft, making multiple failed attempts to land while circling above residential areas.
“It was a nasty experience,” one passenger said. “People were screaming, praying, and casting out demons as the plane’s fate seemed uncertain.”
Despite the panic, Peter Obi was said to have remained calm and comforted fellow passengers, urging them to trust in God. A businessman onboard, Dr. Benzin Onwaji, also reportedly stood up to lead prayers during the harrowing moment.
The passenger experience highlights the fragility of aviation infrastructure in Nigeria and the potential national implications of such close calls involving key public figures.
The incident came shortly after Obi donated ₦20 million to flood victims in Niger State, reaffirming his continued engagement with humanitarian causes across the country.
Peter Obi has been on a community outreach tour in parts of northern Nigeria before returning to Abuja for scheduled meetings and then proceeding to Lagos.
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