Air Peace reacts to NSIB report on Port Harcourt runway incident
Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has reacted to the preliminary report of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on its July 13 runway incursion at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, involving a Boeing 737-524 aircraft with registration 5N-BQQ.
The NSIB report suggested that members of the cockpit and cabin crew have taken illicit substances, including alcohol and cannabis, based on toxicology tests conducted after the incident.
It also recommended that the airline strengthen its Crew Resource Management (CRM) training, particularly for handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, and improve internal monitoring of crew fitness before flight dispatch.
In its response, Air Peace said it has yet to receive any official communication from NSIB regarding the toxicology findings, more than a month after the incident.
The airline stressed that it took immediate action by suspending the pilot-in-command indefinitely for failing to adhere to CRM principles and ignoring the co-pilot’s advice to initiate a go-around.
“The captain was relieved of flying duties for lack of professionalism, but not for testing positive to a breathalyser test, as NSIB has not communicated any such result to us to date,” the airline said in a statement signed by its management.
Air Peace added that the co-pilot, who it said acted professionally, has since been reinstated with full approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). “If he was involved in drug or alcohol use, the NCAA would not have cleared him to resume flight duties,” the statement noted.
The airline further emphasised its strict zero-tolerance policy on alcohol and drug use, noting that it regularly conducts random tests on crew members and applies standards stricter than regulatory requirements.
It added that it would enhance fitness-for-duty checks, reinforce internal monitoring, and expand CRM training to prevent any recurrence. “Air Peace has consistently maintained a strong safety record and will never compromise the safety of its passengers,” the statement said.
