The co-pilot went on to say he had to bring the Boeing 737 aircraft to a halt by himself manually.
By Kehinde Okeowo
A day after the preliminary report which indicated some crew members of Air Peace Boeing 737 aircraft which veered off the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport on June 13, 2025, was revealed, the co-pilot of the aeroplane, David Bernard, has given his own side of the story.
Speaking as a guest on Arise Television on Friday, he said he noticed that the captain’s approach was not stable, adding that he advised him, but he ignored him.
TheNiche had earlier reported that The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) disclosed that its preliminary investigation indicated that an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot consumed alcohol before flying.
In a statement made available by NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the agency also indicted a cabin crew member.
She said, “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.
“Toxicological screening conducted post-incident revealed that the captain and first officer tested positive for ethyl glucuronide, indicating recent alcohol consumption.”
ALSO READ: Air Peace crew involved in PH Airport runway incident tested positive for alcohol, drugs – NSIB says
However, while recounting what transpired on the day during his interview, the co-pilot said the captain was not following the Landing System that is normally used during landing.
He added that he had to bring the aircraft to a halt by himself manually.
Bernard said, “The incident happened on the 13th of July, 2025. I was the pilot monitoring officer that day. It was good weather and good visibility.
“Everything was going well and smoothly until 500 feet, when the captain disconnected the autopilot to manual to fly the plane for the approach.
“So as he disconnected the autopilot 500 feet, he was becoming high on the approach. I advised him that, Commander, you are high for this approach, we should initiate a go around. And he didn’t listen to me.
“And he continued the approach. We crossed the runway at about 200 feet. That’s the threshold. We came to land just after the middle of the runway.
“And he was so reluctant to use the reverse. That’s the reverse thrust, which I had to do manually and bring the plane to a stop by myself.”
