Air Peace has strongly rejected a report released by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) regarding an incident involving one of its aircraft at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the airline described the NSIB’s preliminary findings as “misleading” and reiterated its commitment to the highest standards of safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
The Bureau had alleged in its report that two Air Peace pilots tested positive for alcohol and cannabis following the runway excursion.
However, the airline denied receiving any official communication on such findings and insisted that its internal post-incident measures were not related to drug or alcohol use.
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports referencing a preliminary NSIB report on the July 13 incident in Port Harcourt. To date, Air Peace has not received any official communication from the NSIB confirming such test results,” the statement read.
The airline explained that the captain of the affected flight was grounded immediately—not for substance use—but for failing to observe standard Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and for disregarding a go-around call made by his co-pilot.
“Air Peace has a zero-tolerance policy on drug use and a stricter alcohol-use policy than regulations require. We conduct frequent alcohol and drug tests on our crew. Safety remains non-negotiable,” the airline stressed.
The statement further clarified that the co-pilot, who had advised the captain to execute a go-around, was cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and has since resumed active duty.
“If the First Officer had tested positive for drugs or alcohol, NCAA would not have approved his return to flight duty,” Air Peace added.
Reiterating its long-standing reputation for safe operations, the airline urged stakeholders and the public to disregard what it called “unsubstantiated claims” and await official, evidence-based conclusions from the NSIB.
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