By Dickson Omobola
In a shocking revelation that has rattled Nigeria’s aviation industry, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that members of the flight crew of an Air Peace Boeing 737-524 aircraft tested positive for alcohol and cannabis after a near-catastrophic incident in Port Harcourt.
The disturbing disclosure followed an ongoing investigation into the July 13, 2025 incident involving the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BQQ, which skidded dangerously during landing at the Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.
According to the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, toxicological examinations conducted on the flight crew revealed alarming traces of alcohol, while one cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
> “Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption. A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis,” Oladeji stated.
Narrow Escape for 103 Onboard
The aircraft, operating a scheduled Lagos–Port Harcourt flight with 103 passengers and crew, narrowly avoided tragedy. Investigators reported that the jet landed unstably, touching down a staggering 2,264 metres from the runway threshold—far beyond safe parameters—before finally grinding to a halt 209 metres into the clearway.
Miraculously, all passengers and crew disembarked safely without injuries, but aviation experts warn that the incident could have ended in disaster.
NSIB Orders Immediate Safety Measures
In response, the NSIB has issued urgent safety recommendations, directing Air Peace to:
Strengthen Crew Resource Management (CRM) training, especially on handling unstabilised approaches and critical go-around decisions.
Enforce stricter internal protocols to ensure crew members are medically and psychologically fit for duty before every flight.
Oladeji emphasized that the findings are preliminary, forming part of the human performance and safety management review. The full preliminary report has been published on the NSIB website, while the final report will provide conclusive evidence and additional safety directives.
A Wake-Up Call for Nigerian Aviation
This incident, which could have claimed scores of lives, has ignited renewed debate over aviation safety, crew discipline, and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s skies. Aviation watchers say the revelations have shaken public confidence and could trigger stricter global scrutiny on Nigerian carriers.
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