The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has confirmed that members of the flight crew aboard an Air Peace aircraft tested positive for alcohol and cannabis following a runway excursion at Port Harcourt International Airport.
The incident, which took place on July 13, 2025, involved a Boeing 737 operating a scheduled flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 passengers on board.
According to investigators, the aircraft experienced an “unstabilised final approach” and landed long on Runway 21, veering 209 metres into the clearway before coming to a stop.
All passengers and crew safely disembarked, and no casualties were reported.
A preliminary report signed by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, revealed that toxicology tests conducted on the crew showed signs of substance use.
“Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption,” she stated.
The report further indicated that a cabin crew member tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
“A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation,” Oladeji added.
Investigators noted that the aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold—well beyond the recommended touchdown zone. “The aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach. The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway,” the NSIB reported.
While no structural damage was recorded, the bureau raised alarms over the crew’s fitness for duty and broader safety oversight issues. As an immediate response, the NSIB issued safety recommendations to Air Peace, advising the airline to bolster internal monitoring of crew readiness, enhance training for handling unstabilised approaches, and enforce more rigorous go-around procedures.
“Toxicological screening conducted post-incident revealed that the captain and first officer tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide, indicating recent alcohol consumption,” the bureau stated.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the NSIB noting that additional findings will be disclosed in future reports.
