The management of Air Peace has rejected the report of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), maintaining that the agency has not communicated its findings from the investigation of the Port Harcourt runway excursion.
It will be recalled that the NSIB launched an investigation into the incident that occurred on July 13, when an Air Peace plane veered off the runway after landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The Air Peace’s aircraft, with registration 5N-BQQ, was flying a scheduled Lagos–Port Harcourt service when it landed long on Runway 21.
On Thursday, NSIB said that an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot tested positive for alcohol, and a cabin crew member tested positive for a drug.
But in a statement addressing media reports on NSIB’s findings on Friday, Air Peace said it does not tolerate alcohol and drug use, adding that it conducts frequent tests on crew members.
“To date, we have never received any official communications from the NSIB on such findings over a month after the incident and after the testing of the crew for alcohol which took place in less than an hour of the incident,” the airline said.
“Air Peace conducts frequent alcohol and drug tests on our crew. We have a very strict alcohol use policy that is stricter than the 8 hours before the flight as provided in the regulations. Drug use is a NO-NO!”
‘CAPTAIN OF AFFECTED FLIGHT WAS IMMEDIATELY GROUNDED’
The airline also said the captain of the affected flight was immediately grounded and relieved of flying duties—not because of an alcohol test result, but for failing to adhere to crew resource management (CRM) principles and disregarding his co-pilot’s advice to execute a go-around.
Air Peace said the first officer, who called for the go-around, had been cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and reinstated to active duties.
“If he was involved in drug or alcohol use, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority would not have cleared him to resume flight duties,” Air Peace said.
“However, if the sacked captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, then we must increase the frequency of our alcohol and drug tests on our crew.
“Again, the importance of Enhanced Crew Resource Management Training can not be over emphasized.”
The airline said it will step up the frequency of its crew drug and alcohol testing, as well as strengthen internal monitoring and fitness-for-duty checks to reinforce its zero-tolerance safety policy.
Air Peace said it has consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implements global best practices in all aspects of its operations, and reassured passengers and the public that safety will never be compromised.
