Air Peace has refuted a purported preliminary report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) regarding an incident involving one of its aircraft at the Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.

The NSIB had launched a probe 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.

On Thursday, NSIB revealed that an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot tested positive for alcohol, and a cabin crew member tested positive for a drug.

However, Air Peace said the NSIB has not communicated its findings from the investigation of the Port Harcourt runway excursion and refuted the claim of alcohol use by its pilot.

The airline’s reaction was contained in a statement signed by its management on its official X account 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!”

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 overemphasized.”

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.