Air Peace Reacts to Viral NSIB Report Indicting Crew Members

Air Peace has reacted to media reports citing a preliminary investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), which alleged that its crew tested positive for alcohol and drugs after an incident at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.

In a statement released by the airline’s management, Air Peace said it has not received any official communication from the NSIB regarding such findings, more than a month after the incident. The airline stressed that the only test conducted on its crew was a breathalyser test administered less than an hour after the runway excursion.

The airline maintained that it has a strict alcohol and drug use policy, stricter than regulatory requirements, and conducts frequent tests on its crew. It explained that following the incident, the captain of the flight was dismissed—not for alcohol or drug use, but for failing to follow standard Crew Resource Management principles and ignoring his co-pilot’s advice to initiate a go-around.

Air Peace clarified that the co-pilot, who had called for the go-around, was cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and reinstated to active flight duties, confirming he was not involved in any drug or alcohol violation.

The management added that if the dismissed captain did in fact test positive for alcohol, the airline would further increase the frequency of crew alcohol and drug checks. It also emphasized the importance of enhanced Crew Resource Management training, fitness-for-duty checks, and stronger internal monitoring to uphold its safety culture.

Reaffirming its position, Air Peace said: “We have consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implement global best practices. We reassure our esteemed passengers and the Nigerian public that safety will never be compromised in Air Peace.”