Air Peace co-pilot David Bernard has dismissed reports by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) alleging that traces of alcohol and drugs were found in his system following the July 13 runway incident in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that NSIB on Friday alleged that toxicology tests performed on Air Peace crew indicated alcohol consumption, and that one crew member also tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
The investigations was prompted after the aircraft, operating a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt, reportedly experienced an unstabilised approach and landed 2,264 metres beyond the runway threshold before finally stopping 209 metres into the clearway. All 103 passengers and crew disembarked safely, with no injuries reported.
Reacting, the airline via a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, said it had not received any official communication from the NSIB about such findings—over a month after the incident.
The statement reads: “The captain of the affected flight was grounded and removed from flight duty immediately after the incident for failing to follow Crew Resource Management (CRM) procedures and ignoring a go-around suggestion from the First Officer.
“This action was taken without knowledge of any failed breathalyser result, as we’ve not been notified of such by NSIB.”
Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, Mr Bernard stressed that he does not drink or smoke.
“It was good weather and good visibility, everything was going well and smooth until 500 feet when the captain disconnected the autopilot to fly the plane for the approach. So, as he disconnected the autopilot at 500 feet, he was becoming high in the approach. I advised him that, Commander, you are high for this approach,” he said.
