The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released its report on the July 13 Air Peace incident at Port Harcourt International Airport, revealing that alcohol and drug use among crew members contributed to the runway overshoot.
The Boeing 737-500, carrying 96 passengers and seven crew from Lagos, touched down nearly three-quarters into the 3,000-metre runway, leaving insufficient space for safe deceleration. The aircraft skidded onto a grass verge, but all passengers and crew escaped unhurt. Weather conditions at the time were clear.
Investigators found both pilots tested positive for alcohol, while a flight attendant tested positive for cannabis. The bureau described this as “a serious breach of aviation discipline, professionalism, and safety culture.”
The report further revealed that the first officer advised a go-around after identifying an unstable approach, but the 64-year-old captain, with over 10,000 flight hours, insisted on landing. Aviation experts have warned that such authority gaps in the cockpit can undermine safety-critical decisions.
In response, the NSIB directed Air Peace to strengthen fitness checks to prevent substance impairment among crew and to reinforce training on go-around procedures, stressing that abandoning unstable approaches is key to safe operations.
Although no fatalities occurred, the bureau warned that the incident underscores the need for strict adherence to global aviation safety standards.
