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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate has absolved Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace, of any wrongdoing in the July 13, 2024 runway incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport, faulting the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) for what it described as “inconsistent and poorly coordinated findings.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari, disclosed this after an investigative hearing on Thursday, saying the committee’s review of the NSIB report exposed contradictions that could harm Nigeria’s standing with international aviation regulators if left uncorrected.
Buhari, who represents Oyo North Senatorial District, expressed concern that the NSIB’s preliminary report initially alleged drug use by several members of the Air Peace flight crew but later narrowed it to only two individuals, a move he said demonstrated poor coordination.
“You can see that, unfortunately, most of those allegations are not true,” Buhari said. “The report was disjointed and not coordinated. You don’t accuse people wrongly, especially in aviation, where ICAO and other international laboratories are monitoring us closely.”
He commended Air Peace and other local airlines for maintaining internal safety checks, including random drug testing for pilots and crew, stressing that indigenous operators should be supported rather than vilified.
“Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own. We need to support them, not destroy their reputation with unverified claims,” he said. “The most important thing is that no lives were lost, and the aircraft was not damaged. It was towed and later flown safely to Lagos.”
The lawmaker revealed that the Senate would recommend new measures to enhance the accuracy and coordination of aviation investigations, noting that the exercise was aimed at improving safety standards across the industry, not targeting any operator.
He further hinted at a forthcoming bill mandating federal agencies and government officials to use Nigerian airlines for official travel as part of broader efforts to strengthen the local aviation sector.
At the session attended by key stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema, defended the airline’s safety record, describing the NSIB’s report and the public reactions it triggered as misleading and damaging.
“I initially did not want to honour this invitation,” Onyema said. “But on second thought, I came because the Senate members are our customers and have every right to be concerned about safety. I must, however, correct certain impressions created by the NSIB’s handling of this matter.”
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He clarified that the incident resulted from human error, not equipment failure, insisting that the aircraft was undamaged and returned to Lagos on the same day.
“The aircraft in question had no single damage. It flew back to Lagos the same day,” he explained. “The pilot has flown for nearly 40 years — one of the most experienced in our fleet. He simply had a bad day. Unfortunately, the early report made it appear as if the aircraft was faulty or the pilots were intoxicated.”
Onyema also emphasised Air Peace’s strict internal safety protocols, revealing that the airline often grounds aircraft voluntarily when anomalies are detected.
“I once grounded eight aircraft in a single day after discovering that a maintenance planner made a mistake on one of our ERJ planes,” he recalled. “We could have hidden it, but we reported it ourselves to the NCAA. That’s how seriously we take safety.”
He cautioned that unfounded allegations and sensational reports could expose Nigerian airlines to unnecessary foreign scrutiny.
“What we say here is being monitored globally,” Onyema said. “We must be careful not to impugn the integrity of our regulators or destroy public trust in Nigerian airlines. Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria.”
The session, which became emotional at several points, was later moved into an executive session to allow confidential review of safety data and reports.
Before adjourning, Senator Buhari assured Onyema and other stakeholders that the Senate’s intervention was aimed at safeguarding the aviation industry’s integrity and public confidence.
“We are not here to destroy any business,” he said. “Our concern is the safety of Nigerian travellers and the reputation of our aviation industry. The Air Peace incident has shown the need for coordinated reporting and factual communication.”
