Air Peace has dismissed media reports suggesting that its pilots tested positive for hard drugs and alcohol after an incident involving one of its aircraft at the Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.
The airline, in a statement issued on Friday through its official X handle, insisted that it had not received any formal communication from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau regarding such claims.
“Our attention has been drawn to media stories on a purported preliminary report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau. We are yet to receive any official communications from the NSIB on such findings, more than a month after the incident,” the airline said.
The NSIB had earlier released a preliminary report indicting the flight captain and co-pilot, claiming they tested positive for prohibited substances after their aircraft veered off the runway.
However, Air Peace described the report as misleading, stressing that it upholds a zero-tolerance policy on substance abuse.
“As a responsible airline, we place utmost priority on safety, transparency, and compliance. Air Peace conducts frequent alcohol and drug tests on our crew. We have a very strict alcohol use policy that is even stricter than the regulatory eight hours before flight. Drug use is a NO-NO,” the airline stated.
Providing further clarification, the management said the captain of the affected flight was removed from duty—not for drug or alcohol use, but for “failure to adhere to Crew Resource Management principles and for disregarding standard go-around procedures as advised by his co-pilot.”
The airline defended the co-pilot, noting that he acted professionally during the incident and has since been cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
“Contrary to reports in the media, the First Officer, who demonstrated professionalism in calling for a go-around to his captain, has been reinstated into active flying duties, with full approval from the NCAA. If he was involved in drug or alcohol use, the NCAA would not have cleared him,” the statement read.
Air Peace added that if future results confirm the captain’s involvement with substances, it would “increase the frequency of alcohol and drug tests on crew members.”
Reiterating its safety record, the airline assured passengers that it would continue to improve monitoring and training.
“The importance of Enhanced Crew Resource Management Training cannot be overemphasised. We will intensify strict fitness-for-duty checks and stronger internal monitoring to prevent any breach of our zero-tolerance safety policy,” the statement added.
Air Peace further reassured the public, saying: “We have consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implement global best practices in all aspects of our operations. Safety will never be compromised in Air Peace.”