P’Harcourt Airport Incident : Air Peace crew tested positive for cannabis, alcohol- NSIB

-As Air Peace denies report

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Friday, released the preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-524 aircraft, operated by Air Peace, saying initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption.

The report said that a cabin crew member also tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis.

“These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.”, a statement on the report signed by Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB said.

The incident with the aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQQ, operated by Air Peace Limited, 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.

According to the NSIB report, 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. 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.”, it said.

It added that the report represents early findings and is subject to further analysis.

The final report, NSIB said, will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria

Meanwhile, the management of Air Peace has denied preliminary report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) concerning a flight incident at Port Harcourt on July 13, 2025, clarifying that the captain involved was grounded for procedural failures, not for a confirmed positive alcohol test.

In a statement on Friday, the airline addressed media stories circulating about the NSIB report, noting that it has yet to receive any official communication from the bureau regarding its findings, more than a month after the incident occurred.

Air Peace confirmed it took immediate and decisive action following the incident by relieving the captain of his duties.

The airline stated the decision was based on the captain’s “failure to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and for disregarding standard go-around procedures as advised by his co-pilot.”

Contrary to some reports, the airline asserted that the First Officer (co-pilot) has been fully reinstated into active flying duties with approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The statement highlighted the co-pilot’s professionalism in calling for a go-around and argued that the NCAA’s clearance to resume flight duties would not have been granted if there were any concerns about substance use.

While emphasizing its strict zero-tolerance policy on drugs and a stringent alcohol use policy that exceeds regulatory requirements, Air Peace stated it was not officially informed of the breathalyzer test results conducted on the crew less than an hour after the incident.

The airline pledged to increase the frequency of its alcohol and drug tests on crew members should the NSIB’s official findings confirm the captain tested positive.

It stressed commitment to intensifying its fitness-for-duty checks, enhancing Crew Resource Management training, and strengthening internal monitoring to prevent any safety breaches.

Reassuring the public, the carrier stressed that safety is its utmost priority and it will never compromise on its strong safety record and adherence to global best practices in its operations.