It was a terrifying afternoon for passengers aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. What was meant to be a routine trip turned into a nerve-wracking experience as the plane struggled to land at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Tuesday.

According to eyewitnesses, the flight—Air Peace P47123—was scheduled to depart at 12:35 p.m. but took off at 12:59 p.m. Its expected landing time of 1:55 p.m. was missed by 30 minutes, as the aircraft circled aimlessly in the sky.

“The pilot appeared to lose control,” said one shaken passenger. “The aircraft hovered for about 30 minutes. It kept trying to land but couldn’t, and each failed attempt made everyone panic even more.”

The fear among passengers intensified when it became known that Peter Obi was onboard. “If that plane had gone down, no one would have believed it was just an accident,” a passenger noted. “It would’ve shaken the entire nation.”

Throughout the ordeal, Peter Obi remained calm and focused. Seated in Economy Class, he reportedly comforted other passengers and urged them to stay calm. “He kept telling us we would be fine,” said one eyewitness. “His composure gave many people hope.”

A mother of two shared her terrifying experience. “I held my children and thought that was the end. The plane just kept hovering as if it didn’t know whether to ascend or descend. I closed my eyes and prayed.”

She added that Obi’s presence helped calm the cabin. “He kept repeating, ‘It is well.’ That helped, but I still thought we were going to crash into homes below.”

Also onboard was Dr. Benson Onuwaje, a businessman in First Class, who stood up to pray during the ordeal. “That man has courage,” said Mathew Adekunle, another passenger. “He started praying aloud and calling on God. It gave many of us strength in that moment.”

The plane eventually landed at 2:25 p.m., about 30 minutes behind schedule. Although everyone walked away unharmed, many passengers expressed frustration about aviation safety in the country.

“We’re too fragile a nation to ignore these warning signs,” one passenger said. “If something had gone wrong, it could’ve led to political chaos.”

Peter Obi had been visiting communities in northern Nigeria and returned to Abuja before boarding the flight to Lagos for another meeting. His recent activities also included a N20 million donation to flood victims in Niger State.