The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicted the pilot and co-pilot of an Air Peace aircraft for testing positive for alcohol and hard drugs after a runway incursion at Port Harcourt International Airport.
According to a preliminary report released on Friday by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the incident occurred on July 13, 2025, when the Boeing 737 veered off Runway 21 while carrying 103 passengers on board.
The report revealed that the aircraft, operating a domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt, landed long after an unstabilised final approach, touching down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold before coming to a stop 209 metres into the clearway. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were recorded.
Runway incursions are commonly caused by miscommunication, pilot error, or faulty equipment. However, investigators noted that with this discovery, pilot intoxication has now been added to the list of contributory factors.
