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By John Ogunsemore
Air Peace said it has not received any official communication from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) over its investigation into an incident involving the airline’s flight at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt on July 13.
Air Peace disclosed this in a Friday statement signed by its management after the NSIB released a preliminary report early Friday about an incident involving Air Peace’s Boeing 737-524, bearing the registration 5N-BQQ , which overshot the runway.
In its report, the NSIB stated that tests conducted on the Air Peace crew involved in the incident showed traces of alcohol and cannabis.
Reacting, Air Peace said the flight pilot was fired for procedural and not substance abuse, noting that NSIB has not officially communicated its finding on the incident to the airline.
The statement 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 July 13, 2025.
“To date, we have never received 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.
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“We have a very strict alcohol and drug use policy that is stricter than the 8 hours before flight provided in the regulations.
“Following the incident, we took immediate and decisive action:
“The captain of the affected flight was dismissed 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.
“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 sacked captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, then we must increase the frequency of our alcohol and drug tests on our crew.”
Air Peace reiterated its commitment to Enhanced Crew Resource Management Training given its importance to aviation safety.
“We will intensify strict Fitness-for-Duty checks and Stronger Internal Monitoring to prevent any breach of our zero-tolerance safety policy,” the airline stressed.
Air Peace said it has consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implements global best practices in all aspects of its operations, reassuring its esteemed passengers and the Nigerian public that safety would never be compromised in its operations.
