Air Peace flight crew members have dismissed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB) report alleging drug and alcohol use during a July 13 runway excursion in Port Harcourt, describing it as a smear campaign. They have given the bureau 72 hours to retract the claims or face legal action.
On September 11, the NSIB alleged that the flight’s pilot and co-pilot tested positive for alcohol, while a cabin crew member allegedly tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
But Victory Maduneme, a cabin crew member, said on Arise News Night that the bureau’s process was flawed and misleading. She explained that her blood and urine samples were taken immediately after the incident, but the test results were not released until 10 days later.
Maduneme insisted that a subsequent “reconfirmatory” test at a licensed aviation medical clinic cleared her of any drug use. She questioned why NSIB delayed notifying her airline if the initial results were true, arguing that such negligence would have put passengers at risk.
“This is pure defamation of character,” she said. “If in the next 72 hours NSIB does not retract what they’ve said against me, I think we should sue.”
Co-pilot David Bernard also rejected NSIB’s claims, saying he neither drinks nor uses drugs and faulted the testing method.
“A breathalyser would have been more practical,” he argued. “Instead, they took blood and urine samples on July 13 but only returned with results 10 days later. That makes no sense in 2025.”
Bernard further alleged that the tests were carried out in hospitals not recognised by aviation authorities, raising credibility concerns.
Air Peace, in its response, denied the NSIB report and noted that the bureau had yet to formally share its findings with the airline.