Nigeria’s accident investigators have reported that two pilots for Air Peace tested positive for alcohol and cannabis following a runway overrun incident in Port Harcourt last July.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released a preliminary report today, confirming that toxicology tests detected intoxicants in the captain and first officer who were operating a Boeing 737 with 103 people on board. The report also noted that a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the main psychoactive component in cannabis.
The incident occurred after the aircraft, on a domestic flight from Lagos, landed well past the designated touchdown zone on Runway 21 at Port Harcourt International Airport. Investigators described the approach as “unstabilised,” with the plane touching down more than 2,200 meters from the start of the runway and coming to a stop 200 meters into the overrun area.
Fortunately, all 103 passengers and crew members disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.
The NSIB highlighted the toxicology results, stating they suggest “human performance was a critical factor” in the incident. In response to the findings, the agency has recommended that Air Peace enhance its crew resource management training and implement more stringent checks to ensure pilots are fit to fly before dispatch.
Runway excursions are a common risk in commercial aviation, often caused by factors like poor visibility, technical faults, or, as appears to be the case here, pilot error.
So far, Air Peace has not commented on the bureau’s report. The investigation is ongoing.
