Lagos, Nigeria — A co-pilot with Air Peace, David Bernard, and a cabin crew member, Maduneme Victory, have rejected the findings of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), which alleged they tested positive for alcohol and marijuana following a runway incursion involving their aircraft at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.
The NSIB’s preliminary report stated that toxicological screening conducted at Rivers State Hospital Management revealed the presence of alcohol in the blood of both pilots, while a cabin crew member allegedly tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The incident occurred when the Air Peace aircraft veered off the runway, touching down 2,264 metres from the threshold—well beyond the recommended touchdown zone—before stopping 209 metres into the clearway. All passengers disembarked safely.
Crew Reject Findings
Speaking on Arise Television, Bernard insisted the tests were flawed and carried out at an unregistered centre.
“I don’t drink or smoke. They took our blood and urine samples on July 13 and only came back with results 10 days later. In aviation, a breathalyser test is immediate. This makes no sense,” he said.
Victory echoed similar concerns, claiming the process was marred by delays and inconsistencies. She said she later underwent a reconfirmatory test at a licensed aerospace clinic, which returned a negative result for cannabis.
“This is pure defamation of character. If marijuana was really in my system, why was I allowed to continue flying? NSIB did not even notify my airline until two months later,” she argued, warning of possible legal action against the bureau.
NSIB, Air Peace React
Responding, NSIB Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh, dismissed allegations of a smear campaign.
“The toxicology tests were conducted by the Rivers State Hospital, not NSIB. The results came in the next day, July 14. We have published countless preliminary reports before; this is no different,” he said.
Air Peace, however, questioned the handling of the matter, noting it had not received any official communication from NSIB regarding the toxicology results. The airline also pointed out that the co-pilot had since been cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and returned to duty.
“If he were involved in drug or alcohol use, the NCAA would not have cleared him to resume flight duties,” the airline said, stressing that it enforces stricter internal policies on alcohol and drug use than regulations require.
Safety Concerns and Public Reaction
The conflicting accounts have sparked fears among passengers and experts over aviation safety oversight in Nigeria. Some frequent flyers expressed panic, with one passenger saying she opted to travel by road instead of flying.
Aviation expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (Rtd), blamed the NCAA for lax enforcement of safety regulations, citing over 150 unaddressed safety recommendations and warning that the loss of experienced regulators was leaving the industry vulnerable.
“If truly the pilot was drunk, why was it not detected earlier? The NCAA must sit up. They have no option,” he said.
As the controversy deepens, industry observers are calling for closer synergy between the NSIB, NCAA, and airlines to ensure safety, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
