By GABRIEL AGBEJA

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has indicted an Air Peace pilot and a Co-pilot for taking alcohol and other substances.

The accident investigators tested the crew positive for the substances after the aircraft they flew was involved in a runway excursion at the Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13.

This was contained in a preliminary report signed by Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.

Oladeji said the NSIB preliminary report on Air Peace 5N-BQQ incident occurred on July 13 at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State revealed alcohol and substances consumption by flight crew.

The NSIB said the initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption.

According to the bureau, the aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach.

“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-524 aircraft, with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQQ, operated by Air Peace Ltd.

“The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.

“Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption.”

The NSIB said a cabin crew member also tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis.

It added that the results were being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.

The bureau said it had issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Ltd. to strengthen crew resource management (CRM) training, particularly in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions.

“Also to reinforce internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty monitoring before flight dispatch. The full preliminary report, including detailed findings, is available for download on the NSIB website.

“The report represents early findings and is subject to further analysis. The final report will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria, “ it said.

“For further enquiries or media requests, please contact NSIB through info@nsib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909,” it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NSIB is the multimodal transport agency charged with the mandate of promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria.

NSIB’s mandate is also aimed at identifying the probable causes and advocating for safety improvements based on our findings. (NAN)

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