The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicted two Air Peace pilots after toxicology tests revealed they were under the influence of alcohol and drugs when their aircraft overshot the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport.
In its preliminary report released Friday, the bureau confirmed that both the captain and first officer of the Boeing 737 tested positive for intoxicants, while a cabin crew member tested positive for cannabis (THC).
The aircraft, which was carrying 103 passengers and crew from Lagos, executed what investigators described as an unstabilised final approach to Runway 21. The plane touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a halt more than 200 metres into the overrun area.
“All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported,” the bureau stated.
According to the NSIB:
Toxicological tests detected ethyl glucuronide, an indicator of recent alcohol consumption, in both pilots.
A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Investigators concluded that human performance was a critical factor in the runway excursion.
Runway excursions are one of the most common risks in commercial aviation, often linked to poor visibility, pilot error, or technical faults.
The NSIB has recommended that Air Peace:
Tighten pre-flight checks on pilot fitness.
Strengthen crew resource management training to improve safety compliance.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) classifies crew intoxication as a serious breach of global aviation safety standards. Similar incidents in other countries have led to criminal prosecutions and heightened scrutiny of airline operations.
Air Peace — Nigeria’s largest carrier, with routes across Africa and international destinations including London, Saudi Arabia, Dakar, Freetown, Monrovia, and Accra — has yet to issue a statement on the NSIB’s findings.
