“To date, we have never received any official communications 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!”, Air Peace maintained.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Nigeria and West Africa’s leading airline, Air Peace, has reacted to media reports on a purported preliminary finding by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in circulation regarding the incident involving one of its aircraft at Port Harcourt on July 13, 2025.
Media reports citing preliminary report signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, had claimed that the incident involving an Air Peace B737-500 which overshot the runways at Port-Harcourt International Airport, River State on July 13, 2025 was as a result of ingestion of alcohol by the pilots of the aircraft and a cabin crew member who also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.
But in a release signed by its management, Air Peace stated that it was yet to be communicated on any findings to that effect, over one month after the incident.
“To date, we have never received any official communications 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!”, Air Peace maintained.
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The statement added that following the incident, Air Peace took immediate and decisive action: “The captain of the affected flight was dismissed 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.
“Contrary to reports in the media, 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”.
Air Peace stressed that as a responsible airline, it places utmost priority on safety, transparency, and compliance, adding that it is important to set the record straight.
The airline added that it conducts frequent alcohol and drug tests on its crew, stressing “ We have a very strict alcohol and drug use policy that is stricter than the 8 hours before flight provided in the regulations”.
The statement added however that if the sacked captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, Air Peace must increase the frequency of alcohol and drug tests on its crew.
“Again, the importance of Enhanced Crew Resource Management Training cannot 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 management emphasised.
