ABUJA — A co-pilot, David Bernard, and a cabin crew member, Maduneme Victory, have rejected a preliminary report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) alleging that they tested positive for alcohol and marijuana following an incident involving an Air Peace aircraft at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.
The NSIB report, released Friday, claimed toxicological screenings indicated alcohol in the systems of the captain and first officer, while a cabin crew member tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The aircraft, which veered off the runway during landing, touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold, far beyond the recommended touchdown zone, and came to a stop 209 metres into the clearway. Although all passengers disembarked safely, the incident raised serious safety concerns.
Crew reject findings
Speaking in separate interviews on Arise Television, Bernard and Victory accused the NSIB of relying on questionable tests from a “non-aviation recognised hospital” to tarnish the airline’s reputation.
“I don’t drink or smoke,” Bernard insisted, questioning why results from samples taken on July 13 were only presented 10 days later.
Victory described the outcome as “pure defamation of character,” revealing she later underwent a reconfirmatory test at a licensed aerospace clinic which returned negative.
“This is an attempt to smear the image of the airline. If truly marijuana was in my system, my license would have been withdrawn immediately,” she argued, threatening legal action unless the NSIB withdrew its report.
NSIB, Air Peace respond
NSIB Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh, dismissed claims of a smear campaign, noting the bureau only relied on results from the Rivers State Hospital Management.
“This is not our first preliminary report. The toxicology tests were official and results were available the next day,” Badeh said.
Air Peace also defended its crew, stating Bernard had been cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and had since resumed flight duties.
“If he were involved in drug or alcohol use, the NCAA would not have cleared him to resume duty,” the airline stressed. It, however, confirmed the captain of the incident flight remained grounded for procedural lapses, not toxicology results.
The airline criticised the NSIB for failing to formally communicate its findings, stressing that it conducts regular alcohol and drug checks that are stricter than regulatory standards.
Public concern grows
The controversy has sparked public anxiety about aviation safety in Nigeria. Frequent flyer Aderoju Aina expressed fears of lax regulation, while another passenger said she opted to travel by road instead of air due to the report.
Aviation analyst, Group Captain John Ojikutu (Rtd), blamed the NCAA for weak enforcement. He recalled past administrations where safety lapses were swiftly addressed and warned that institutional memory within the regulator was declining.
“The NCAA must sit up. If truly a pilot was drunk, why was it not detected before boarding?” Ojikutu asked.
The incident has highlighted tensions between Nigeria’s aviation regulators and raised concerns about industry oversight, with many observers demanding that the matter be pursued to a logical conclusion to restore passenger confidence.