Air Peace has refuted media reports alleging that its pilots tested positive for alcohol and drugs following the July 13, 2025 incident involving one of its aircraft at Port Harcourt International Airport.
In a statement on Friday, the airline said it has not received any official communication from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) regarding such findings, more than a month after the incident and the post-incident crew testing.
“As a responsible airline, we place utmost priority on safety, transparency, and compliance. To date, no such report has been formally communicated to us by NSIB,” the airline stated.
Air Peace explained that it enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy on drug and alcohol use, with testing standards even stricter than regulatory requirements. The carrier said it also conducts frequent internal screenings to ensure compliance among crew members.
Following the Port Harcourt runway incursion, the airline said the captain was dismissed, not for alleged alcohol use, but for failing to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and ignoring go-around advice from his co-pilot.
Meanwhile, the first officer, who called for a go-around during the flight, has been reinstated after being cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). “If he had tested positive for drugs or alcohol, the NCAA would not have cleared him to resume flight duties,” the airline stressed.
Air Peace added that, should the dismissed captain have tested positive to the NSIB’s breathalyser test, it would respond by further increasing the frequency of its alcohol and drug screenings for crew members.
The airline emphasized that enhanced CRM training, fitness-for-duty checks, and stronger internal monitoring would be intensified to prevent any breach of its safety standards.
“Air Peace has consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implements global best practices in all aspects of its operations. We reassure our esteemed passengers and the Nigerian public that safety will never be compromised,” the statement concluded.