NSIB, Air Peace Disagree Over Port Harcourt Incident Preliminary Report
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
Air Peace management has faulted the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Preliminary report, saying the airline is yet to receive any official communication concerning the July 13, 2025 incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline in a statement on Friday via its X handle said it was important to set the record straight.
NSIB in its latest preliminary report, indicted an Air Peace pilot and a Co-pilot for taking hard drugs and alcohol.
The accident investigators tested the crew positive for the substances after the aircraft they flew was involved in a runway excursion at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
According to the report signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, “Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption. A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.”
However, the airline said no official report has been received from the NSIB on such findings over a month after the incident and after the testing of the crew for alcohol which took place in less than an hour of the incident.
“As a responsible airline, we place utmost priority on safety, transparency, and compliance, and it is important to set the record straight.Air Peace conducts frequent alcohol and drug tests on our crew. We have a very strict alcohol use policy that is stricter than the 8 hours before the flight as provided in the regulations. Drug use is a NO-NO.
“The captain of the affected flight was grounded and relieved from further flight duty till date for failure to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and for disregarding standard go-around procedures as advised by his co-pilot but not for testing positive to breathalyser test as the result was not communicated to us by NSIB to date”.
Air Peace said the First Officer (Co-pilot), who demonstrated professionalism in calling for a go-around to his captain, has been reinstated into active flying duties, with full approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“The NCAA cleared him. If he was involved in drug or alcohol use, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority would not have cleared him to resume flight duties.However, if the relieved captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, then we must increase the frequency of our alcohol and drug tests on our crew.
“Again, the importance of Enhanced Crew Resource Management Training can not be over emphasized.We will intensify strict Fitness-for-Duty checks and Stronger Internal Monitoring to prevent any breach of our zero-tolerance safety policy.
“Air Peace has consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implements global best practices in all aspects of its operations, and we reassure our esteemed passengers and the Nigerian public that safety will never be compromised in Air Peace, “the airline said.
