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A preliminary report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that both the pilot and co-pilot of an Air Peace flight involved in a runway incident tested positive for alcohol and drugs following the event.
The incident occurred on July 13, 2025, when a Boeing 737 operated by Air Peace veered off the runway during landing at Port Harcourt International Airport. Although no injuries were reported and the aircraft sustained no damage, the findings have raised serious concerns about crew conduct and aviation safety.
According to the NSIB, the flight had departed Lagos with 103 passengers onboard and was on final approach to Runway 21 when it failed to stabilize for a proper landing.
“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,” the report stated.
“All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.”
However, post-incident toxicological testing conducted at the Rivers State Hospital Management’s Department of Medical Laboratory revealed troubling results. Both the captain and the first officer tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide, a biomarker indicating recent alcohol use. Additionally, one cabin crew member tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the psychoactive substance found in cannabis, locally known as “India hemp.”
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“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 said.
The bureau emphasized that these toxicology findings are being analyzed in the context of human performance limitations, a critical aspect of aviation safety assessments.
Following the incident and toxicological findings, the NSIB has issued urgent safety recommendations to Air Peace.
“The NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Limited to strengthen crew resource management 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 statement added.
The NSIB’s Public Affairs and Family Assistance Director, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, signed off on the preliminary report, which was made available to journalists on Friday.
A runway incursion, like the one in this case, is defined as the unauthorized or incorrect presence of an aircraft on a runway. While such incidents are typically linked to miscommunication, operational errors, equipment failure, or poor runway conditions, the NSIB noted that pilot intoxication has now emerged as an additional risk factor.
The investigation is ongoing, and further findings are expected in the NSIB’s final report.
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