NSIB confirms Air Peace crew tested positive for Alcohol, Cannabis After Port Harcourt Runway incident

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that members of the Air Peace flight crew involved in a runway incident at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt, tested positive for alcohol and cannabis.

The incident occurred on July 13, 2025, and involved a Boeing 737-524 aircraft with registration 5N-BQQ, which was operating a scheduled flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 people on board.

Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said initial toxicological tests showed alcohol indicators in the pilots, while a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis.

“The aircraft landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach, touching down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and coming to a stop 209 metres into the clearway,” Oladeji said. “All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.”

She added that the findings are being reviewed under the investigation’s human performance and safety management components.

The NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace, including strengthening crew resource management (CRM) training, improving go-around decision-making, and tightening pre-flight fitness-for-duty checks.

The bureau’s preliminary report, now available on its website, outlines early findings but is subject to further analysis. The final report will provide comprehensive conclusions and additional safety recommendations for Nigeria’s aviation sector.