Air Peace has expanded its fleet with the arrival of another Embraer 190 aircraft, taking the airline’s Embraer fleet to 18 aircraft and its total aircraft acquisitions in 2026 to eight.

The 96-seat Embraer 190 landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2, Lagos, at about 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with Captain Mrs. Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide at the controls.

The latest acquisition is part of the airline’s ongoing fleet expansion programme aimed at increasing capacity, strengthening its network and improving operational flexibility across its domestic, regional and international routes.

Air Peace said the growing Embraer fleet, which includes the latest E2 series aircraft, complements its Boeing aircraft deployed across its expanding network. The airline is the launch customer for the Embraer E2 series in Africa.

In addition to the latest Embraer 190, Air Peace disclosed that it had acquired five Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2026, further expanding its fleet capacity.

The latest aircraft, configured with 12 Business Class and 84 Economy Class seats, is designed to provide greater passenger comfort while offering the airline flexibility in deploying capacity across its network.

The Business Class cabin has a 1-2 configuration, while the Economy Class cabin uses a 2-2 layout, eliminating middle seats. The aircraft also features generous legroom, a spacious cabin and in-seat power sockets.

Air Peace spokesperson, Mr. Osifo-Whiskey Efe, said the acquisition reflected the airline’s deliberate strategy to build a diverse fleet capable of supporting its network expansion.

“The arrival of another Embraer 190 is an important milestone in our strategic fleet expansion programme. We are deliberately building a diverse and versatile fleet that gives us the operational flexibility required to strengthen our network, improve schedule resilience and provide greater connectivity across the markets we serve,” Efe said.

He added that the airline’s 18 Embraer aircraft, alongside its growing Boeing fleet, were being acquired as part of a long-term capacity expansion strategy.

“With 18 Embraer aircraft now in our fleet, alongside our growing Boeing portfolio, we are building capacity for the long term. Every fleet decision is tied to our broader expansion strategy and our commitment to deploying the right aircraft across our domestic, regional and international network,” he stated.

The new aircraft has been named after Mrs. Eka Sunmonu, wife of former Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu.

Air Peace said the naming was significant as it marked the first time the airline had named an aircraft after a person outside the Onyema family.

The latest addition strengthens the airline’s fleet capacity as it seeks to improve connectivity within Nigeria, expand its African network and support its growing international operations.

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced an investigation into the death of a passenger who became unresponsive shortly before a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the police had taken over the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s death.

The passenger, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, was reportedly being returned to Nigeria after being denied entry into Madagascar by customs authorities.

According to the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the passenger allegedly became restless and aggressive during the flight and attempted to gain access to the cockpit before later trying to open the aircraft’s rear door.

Achimugu said the passenger was restrained during the flight to prevent further disruption and safeguard other passengers and crew.

He said the passenger later became unresponsive and was declared dead after the aircraft landed in Lagos.

Kenya Airways, in a statement, said the medical emergency occurred at about 9:20 p.m., approximately 20 minutes before the scheduled landing.

The airline said its crew immediately responded by administering first aid and following established emergency procedures.

The aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 9:41 p.m., where medical personnel boarded the aircraft and subsequently confirmed that the passenger had died.

Achimugu said the airline’s country manager briefed him on the incident on Wednesday morning, adding that the police would conduct their own investigation.

He said the deceased’s family could request an autopsy as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

The Airport Command of the Nigeria Police Force also confirmed the incident, saying investigations had commenced and describing the case as involving an inadmissible passenger.

The police spokesperson, Muhammed Adeola, said complications arose while the passenger was being returned to Nigeria and that he subsequently experienced difficulty breathing.

According to him, medical officers were alerted before the aircraft landed, but the passenger was confirmed dead upon arrival.

Adeola disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited at a morgue in Ikeja pending further investigation.

He added that the police had taken statements from members of the flight crew, including the captain of the aircraft.

Kenya Airways expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and said it was cooperating with the family, local authorities and aviation regulators.

The airline also said it was respecting the privacy and dignity of those involved while providing necessary support to the deceased’s family.

The ongoing police investigation is expected to establish the events leading to the passenger’s medical emergency and subsequent death aboard the Lagos-bound flight.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, have agreed to establish a stronger civil-military aviation safety framework following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft incident at Igbokoda.

The agreement will deepen collaboration between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in airworthiness, certification, training, capacity building and other areas critical to aviation safety.

Keyamo announced the initiative on Wednesday after paying a condolence visit to the Chief of Air Staff over the Igbokoda tragedy, during which he signed the condolence register and held a private meeting with the Air Chief.

Speaking after the meeting, the minister said the incident had reinforced the need for civil and military aviation authorities to share expertise and work more closely to protect lives.

He said the two sectors, despite operating under different statutory frameworks, ultimately serve the same country and protect the same citizens.

“It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody. There were civilians in that air crash and when there’s an air crash in the civil aviation too, there can be military personnel. And so, it is important that we cooperate in the area of safety,” Keyamo said.

According to him, the Nigerian Air Force already depends on civil aviation infrastructure, particularly air traffic control, making it necessary to build a more structured relationship between the two sectors.

Keyamo disclosed that he had contacted the Director-General of the NCAA and facilitated direct communication between the NCAA leadership and the Chief of Air Staff as part of efforts to strengthen the partnership.

He said a joint committee involving the NCAA and NAF would be established to coordinate cooperation in airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety measures, while respecting the statutory responsibilities of both institutions.

The minister also offered Nigerian Air Force personnel access to relevant training programmes organised by civil aviation authorities.

“There is no reason why we cannot take some names from the Air Force. We have a lot of training we go for, so there is no reason why we cannot,” he said.

Keyamo further acknowledged the specialised expertise within the Nigerian Air Force, noting that military aviation professionals could also contribute to strengthening safety within the civil aviation sector.

“This is a kind of cross-pollination and symbiotic relationship we have decided to build for the safety of the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

Responding, Air Marshal Aneke thanked the minister for the condolence visit and continued support for the Nigerian Air Force.

He said discussions had already commenced on a framework that would allow personnel from the civil aviation sector to contribute to the Air Force’s safety environment, particularly in airworthiness and certification, while NAF personnel would also provide expertise to the civil aviation sector where necessary.

“We have both agreed that we need to move the aviation industry, whether military or civil, to a higher level,” Aneke said.

The Chief of Air Staff welcomed the proposed training opportunities for Air Force personnel, saying stronger professional cooperation would improve capacity and aviation safety nationwide.

He stressed that both institutions had a common responsibility to protect Nigerian lives.

“We are serving the same government; we are protecting the same Nigerians. So we are just a blend of each other,” he said.

The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen information sharing, technical cooperation, professional training and safety coordination between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities.