Air Peace Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 103 passengers was involved in a runway excursion at the Port Harcourt International Airport on On July 13, 2025.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has now confirmed that toxicological tests conducted on the crew revealed the presence of alcohol and hard drugs.
TJ News Nigeria reports that the pilots and a cabin crew member tested positive for substances that compromised their fitness to fly. The revelation has sparked major concerns about aviation safety in Nigeria.
What Happened During the Air Peace Runway Excursion?
According to the NSIB’s preliminary report, the Air Peace aircraft:
- Operated a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt.
- Landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach.
- Touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold.
- Finally stopped 209 metres into the clearway.
All passengers disembarked safely with no reported injuries or aircraft damage.
What Did the Drug and Alcohol Tests Reveal?
Toxicological screenings conducted on the crew at Rivers State Hospital in Port Harcourt returned positive results:
- The Captain and First Officer tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide, confirming recent alcohol consumption.
- A Cabin Crew member tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The bureau stated that these results will be further analysed within the framework of human performance and safety management systems.
Why is This a Serious Safety Concern?
Runway excursions are among the most serious incidents in aviation because they can cause loss of life and destruction of aircraft.
Normally, causes include:
- Miscommunication between pilots and control towers.
- Mechanical or braking faults.
- Poor weather or runway surface defects.
In this case, pilot intoxication has been added to the list of risks, raising alarms about crew discipline, airline monitoring, and regulatory oversight in Nigeria.
What Safety Recommendations Did NSIB Issue?
Following the discovery, the NSIB issued immediate safety recommendations to Air Peace Limited:
- Strengthen Crew Resource Management (CRM) Training – especially in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions.
- Enforce Fitness-for-Duty Monitoring – ensuring pilots and cabin crew are properly screened before flight dispatch.
- Reinforce Safety Management Systems (SMS) – with a focus on human performance and accountability.
The NSIB emphasised that these steps are necessary to restore public trust in Nigerian aviation safety.
How Often Do Runway Excursions Happen in Nigeria?
A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft:
- Overshoots the runway length.
- Veers off to the side.
- Fails to stop within the allocated distance.
Such incidents are not new in Nigeria, but the involvement of intoxicated crew members is rare and deeply concerning for regulators.
Key Takeaways from the Air Peace Drug and Alcohol Report
- Incident date: July 13, 2025.
- Aircraft type: Boeing 737.
- Passengers: 103 on board, all safe.
- Findings: Captain and Co-pilot consumed alcohol; cabin crew tested positive for cannabis.
- Regulatory action: NSIB issued urgent safety directives to Air Peace.
Related Questions
Q1: What is the meaning of runway excursion in aviation?
A runway excursion means an aircraft runs off the runway, either overshooting or veering off during landing or takeoff.
Q2: Which Nigerian agency investigates aircraft accidents?
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is responsible for investigating accidents and serious incidents.
Q3: What happens when pilots test positive for drugs or alcohol?
Such cases lead to immediate grounding, disciplinary actions, and safety reviews to prevent future risks.
Related
- Aviation experts have also raised concerns about Port Harcourt Refinery operations and safety issues in Nigeria.
- Earlier in July, we reported on WAEC 2025 Result Statistics, which revealed a high student failure rate.
What you should know
The Air Peace crew testing positive for alcohol and drugs after a runway excursion has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s aviation industry.
While all passengers escaped unhurt, the NSIB’s findings underline the urgent need for stricter crew monitoring, training reinforcement, and stronger safety oversight in Nigeria’s airlines.
A final investigation report is still expected, but the preliminary evidence already points to substance use and human error as major contributors to the Port Harcourt incident.
