Air Peace Airline has reacted to reports by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), alleging that its flight crew tested positive for intoxicating substances following the incident.
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.
However, 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.”
Air Peace insisted it places utmost priority on safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance, and described the media reports as misleading.
However, Air Peace rejected these claims and clarified its internal safety practices:
The statement added, “We have a zero-tolerance policy for drug use and a stricter alcohol-use policy than required. Drug use is a NO-NO at Air Peace.”
Air Peace defended the co-pilot’s conduct, saying he acted professionally by initiating a go-around during the unstable approach, and was cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to resume duties.
“If the First Officer had tested positive for any banned substance, the NCAA would not have cleared him. He remains a valued crew member,” it stated.
The airline reiterated that it would intensify internal crew monitoring, including more frequent alcohol and drug tests, and enhance training on CRM and safety protocols.
“Our track record speaks for itself. Air Peace is IOSA-certified and remains committed to global best practices in aviation safety. We reassure the public that safety remains our top priority,” the statement concluded.