NSIB
PicNews
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released a preliminary report on the Air Peace incident that occurred on July 13, 2025, at the Port Harcourt International Airport. The incident involved an Air Peace Boeing 737 aircraft with 103 persons on board, which landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilized final approach. Fortunately, all passengers and crew disembarked safely without injuries.
Toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption and cannabis use. Specifically, both the captain and first officer tested positive for ethyl glucuronide, a biomarker indicating recent alcohol intake, while a cabin crew member tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The NSIB emphasized that the presence of intoxicants among flight crew poses a significant threat to aviation safety. In response, the bureau has issued immediate safety recommendations to Air Peace, including strengthening crew resource management training, particularly in handling unstabilized approaches and go-around decisions, and reinforcing internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty checks before flight dispatch.
Aviation experts warn that the incident could trigger wider scrutiny of pilot fitness and airline compliance monitoring in Nigeria, particularly amid growing passenger traffic and heightened global safety standards. The NSIB’s investigation is ongoing, and a final report will be released upon completion, providing comprehensive conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.
