By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that the Air Peace runway excursion at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025, was caused by a flight crew operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
According to a preliminary report released Friday, toxicology tests confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot of flight 5N-BQQ, a Boeing 737-524 with 103 passengers and crew on board, tested positive for alcohol. A cabin crew member also tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in cannabis.
The NSIB report, signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, noted that the aircraft landed long on Runway 21 following an unstabilised approach, touching down 2,264 metres from the threshold before veering 209 metres into the clearway. Thankfully, no casualties were recorded.
“Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption,” the report stated.
The bureau recommended that Air Peace strengthen its crew resource management (CRM) training, particularly on go-around decisions, and intensify fitness-for-duty monitoring to prevent future lapses.
Air Peace Reacts
Air Peace, however, said it had not been officially notified of the NSIB’s findings more than a month after the incident. The airline stressed that it already enforces alcohol restrictions stricter than regulatory requirements and conducts regular drug and alcohol tests on its crew.
The airline disclosed that while the captain has been grounded for disregarding go-around procedures, the co-pilot who had called for a go-around, has since been cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to resume flying.
Air Peace added that if official results confirm alcohol use, it will tighten its already strict drug and alcohol testing regime across its operations.
