Air Peace has responded to preliminary findings from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), disputing claims that its flight crew tested positive for alcohol and drugs following a runway incident at Port Harcourt International Airport on 13 July 2025.
In an official statement released on Friday, the airline said it had not received any formal communication from the NSIB regarding the alleged toxicology results, more than a month after the incident involving Flight 5N-BQQ, a Boeing 737-524 en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 passengers and crew.
READ ALSO: NSIB: Air Peace Crew Tested Positive for Drugs, Alcohol After Port Harcourt Runway Incident
The NSIB’s report, widely circulated in media, revealed that both the pilot and co-pilot tested positive for alcohol, while a cabin crew member reportedly tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis. The aircraft experienced a runway excursion after landing long on Runway 21 due to an unstabilised approach. All occupants escaped unharmed.
However, Air Peace pushed back against the narrative, stressing that it maintains a strict no-drug and alcohol policy, with testing protocols exceeding regulatory requirements. The airline noted that it conducts regular and random substance tests on its crew members and expressed concern over the lack of direct communication from the NSIB regarding the alleged test outcomes.
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“Air Peace has not received any official notification or report from NSIB concerning these test results,” the statement read. “We uphold the highest standards of crew conduct and safety compliance.”
The airline also confirmed disciplinary actions taken after an internal review.
“The flight’s captain has been grounded indefinitely for failing to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) protocols, including ignoring a co-pilot’s advice to initiate a go-around during the approach.
“The co-pilot, who did call for a go-around, has been cleared to resume flying duties by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” the airline disclosed.
Air Peace further stated that if any positive alcohol test is officially confirmed by the NSIB, it would immediately increase the frequency of substance testing for all flight crew members across its fleet.
NSIB Preliminary Report
The NSIB’s early findings, signed by Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, indicated that the aircraft touched down approximately 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a stop 209 metres into the clearway—a clear deviation from standard landing procedures.
READ ALSO: NSIB: Air Peace Crew Tested Positive for Drugs, Alcohol After Port Harcourt Runway Incident
The bureau recommended enhanced CRM training for flight crews, especially in handling unstabilised approaches and making go-around decisions, alongside improved checks on crew fitness before dispatch. It added that the final report would include more comprehensive findings and safety recommendations.
Regulatory Oversight
The incident and subsequent allegations have raised fresh concerns about crew oversight in Nigerian aviation. While Air Peace has publicly committed to transparency and enhanced compliance, industry observers are calling for tighter regulatory enforcement and quicker communication between investigative bodies and operators.
As stakeholders await the full NSIB report, attention remains fixed on the outcome of toxicology confirmations and what they could mean for future crew monitoring protocols in Nigeria’s growing aviation sector.
