The management of Air Peace airline has reacted to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report concerning its Boeing 737-524 aircraft, with registration 5N-BQQ, involved in an incident on 13 July during a Lagos–Port Harcourt flight.
According to the NSIB, toxicology tests revealed that members of the flight crew tested positive for alcohol consumption, while a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The aircraft, carrying 103 passengers, had landed long on runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach.
In its response, Air Peace expressed shock that, more than a month after the incident, it had not received official communication from the Bureau regarding the findings.
The airline reaffirmed its commitment to safety, transparency, and compliance, stressing that it enforces strict policies on alcohol and drug use.
Air Peace emphasised that its rules completely prohibit drug use and mandate stricter alcohol restrictions for crew members than the standard eight-hour pre-flight requirement.
The NSIB stated that the results are still under review within the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji.
The statement reads, ‘The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-524 aircraft, with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQQ, operated by Air Peace Limited.
‘The incident occurred on 13 July 2025 at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
‘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.
‘Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption’.
The statement continues: ‘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.
‘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 Bureau while noting that the report represents early findings and is subject to further analysis, added that the final report will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.
Responding to the report, the airline stated that it grounded the captain involved for failure to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and disregarding standard go-around procedures advised by the co-pilot.
The statement by the airline reads: ‘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 13 July 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 8 hours before the flight as provided in the regulations. Drug use is a no-no!
‘Following the incident, we took immediate and decisive action:
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’.
The statement continues: ‘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.
‘However, if the relieved captain tested positive to the breathalyzer 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 emphasised.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’.
