Air Peace Crew Tested Positive for Alcohol, Cannabis, NSIB Reveals in Preliminary Report on PH Runway Incident
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has issued a preliminary report on the serious incident involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-524, which overshot the runway during landing at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt, on 13 July 2025.
The aircraft, bearing the registration 5N-BQQ, was operating a scheduled domestic service from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 people on board when the incident occurred.
According to the report, the flight approached Runway 21 in an unstabilised manner and touched down far beyond the normal landing zone, at 2,264 metres from the threshold. The aircraft eventually came to a complete stop 209 metres into the clearway.
Remarkably, despite the potentially catastrophic nature of the event, all passengers and crew members disembarked without injury.
The Bureau disclosed, however, that toxicological tests conducted as part of the investigation raised serious safety concerns.
The tests indicated the presence of alcohol in the systems of members of the flight crew, while a cabin crew member tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance found in cannabis.
These findings are now being examined under the human performance and safety management aspects of the ongoing investigation.
In response to these revelations, the NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations to Air Peace. The airline has been urged to enhance its crew resource management (CRM) training, with special focus on decision-making during unstabilised approaches and the execution of go-arounds when necessary.
Furthermore, the Bureau has stressed the need for stricter internal monitoring procedures to ensure that all crew members are fit for duty before any flight departs.
The NSIB emphasised that the preliminary report reflects early findings and does not represent the final conclusions of the investigation.
A comprehensive final report will be released after further analysis, containing detailed conclusions and additional recommendations aimed at bolstering aviation safety across Nigeria.
The Bureau noted that it remains committed to its mandate of promoting transport safety through independent, fact-based investigations.
Stakeholders and the public have been urged to view the full report, available for download on the NSIB website.
The Bureau reaffirmed that its ultimate goal is not to apportion blame but to ensure that incidents such as this serve as learning points to prevent future occurrences and improve aviation safety standards in the country.
