September 12, 2025
By Tobi Akinnubi
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicted an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot after toxicology tests revealed the presence of alcohol and drugs in their system.
According to the bureau, the discovery followed investigations into a recent runway incursion involving the airline at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State. NSIB confirmed that the pilot tested positive for alcohol, while the co-pilot tested positive for a banned substance, raising serious concerns over safety procedures and professional standards.
The bureau stated that the development underscores the risks posed by substance use in aviation and vowed to deepen its investigation to determine lapses in the airline’s internal safety and compliance mechanisms.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest commercial carrier, has not yet issued an official statement on the incident. The NSIB said further details, including sanctions and safety recommendations, will be made public once its investigation is concluded.
Aviation analysts have described the findings as a setback for Nigeria’s air safety record and a wake-up call for stricter enforcement of drug and alcohol testing among flight crew members.
