*Air Peace Insists Yet To Receive Report, Reaffirms Commitment To Safety
*Says Affected Captain Grounded, Relieved From Flight Duty Since Incident
THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed that its investigation into the incident involving a Boeing 737-524 aircraft, with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQQ, operated by Air Peace Limited, on July 13, at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, showed positive results for alcohol and cannabis.
Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Oladeji, said in a statement: “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.”
She said the results were being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation, adding: “The aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt, with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach.
“The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.
“These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.
“The NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Limited to strengthen Crew Resource Management (CRM) training, particularly in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, and to reinforce internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty monitoring before flight dispatch.
“The full preliminary report, including detailed findings, is available for download on the NSIB website.
“The report represents early findings and is subject to further analysis. The final report will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.”
However, Air Peace said it was yet to be officially inform it about some of its crew members testing positive for some substances.
In a statement on its official X account, the airline maintained its committment to the highest priority on safety, transparency, and compliance.
“Our attention has been drawn to media stories on a purported preliminary report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) currently circulating online and in the media, regarding the incident involving one of our aircraft at Port Harcourt on July 13, 2025.
“We are yet to receive 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.
“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 eight 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 the 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 NCAA would not have cleared him to resume flight duties.”
The airline added that it would intensify alcohol and drug testing if NSIB eventually confirms a positive test result for the relieved captain, pledging stricter fitness-for-duty checks and tighter internal monitoring to reinforce its zero-tolerance safety policy.
