Air Peace Pilot, Co-Pilot Test Positive for Alcohol and Cannabis After Port Harcourt Runway Scare
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that both the pilot and co-pilot of an Air Peace aircraft tested positive for alcohol and drugs following a runway incident at Port Harcourt International Airport.
The incident occurred on July 13, 2025, when a Boeing 737 carrying 103 passengers veered off Runway 21 after what investigators described as an “unstabilised final approach.”
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
According to the NSIB’s preliminary findings, the aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold—well beyond the recommended landing zone—and eventually came to a halt 209 metres into the clearway.
Toxicology tests conducted at the Rivers State Hospital in Port Harcourt confirmed that the captain and first officer had consumed alcohol, while a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the active compound in cannabis.
“Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption,” the NSIB stated.
“These findings are now being reviewed under the human performance and safety management aspects of the investigation.”
In response, the bureau issued immediate safety directives to Air Peace, urging the airline to:
- Strengthen crew resource management training, especially for handling unstabilised approaches and go-around procedures.
- Reinforce pre-flight fitness-for-duty checks for pilots and crew.
The bureau added that the presence of Ethyl Glucuronide in the pilots’ toxicology results confirmed recent alcohol intake.
While investigations are ongoing, the NSIB emphasized that strict adherence to flight safety protocols is essential to prevent such near-disasters in the future.
