The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed shocking details from its probe into the July 13, 2025 incident involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-524 aircraft with registration 5N-BQQ. According to the bureau, toxicological tests conducted on members of the flight crew confirmed the presence of alcohol and cannabis, raising serious safety concerns within the aviation sector.
Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, explained that initial results showed signs of alcohol consumption among the flight crew, while a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. These findings, she said, are being carefully examined under human performance and safety management to determine their impact on operational decisions during the flight.
The aircraft, which was on a scheduled domestic service from Lagos to Port Harcourt carrying 103 people, experienced an unstabilised final approach and landed long on Runway 21 at the Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa. Reports indicate the plane touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold before coming to a complete stop 209 metres into the clearway. Despite the frightening sequence, all passengers and crew disembarked safely without injuries.
In response to the preliminary findings, the NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations to Air Peace. These include strengthening crew resource management (CRM) training, especially in managing unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, as well as enforcing stricter internal procedures to ensure crew members are fully fit for duty before flights.
The bureau further clarified that its preliminary report, now available on its official website, only represents early findings and remains subject to further analysis. The final report will provide comprehensive conclusions and additional safety recommendations aimed at improving aviation standards and preventing similar incidents in the future.
