A serious safety breach has rocked Nigeria’s aviation industry after a pilot tested positive for alcohol following an incident at Port Harcourt International Airport. The Air Peace Boeing 737, carrying 103 passengers, veered off Runway 21 during landing, sparking immediate investigations. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed that both the 64-year-old captain and his 28-year-old co-pilot tested positive for ethyl glucuronide, a chemical marker for recent alcohol consumption. Investigators also confirmed that a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
In the wake of the findings, the airline dismissed the captain for violating critical safety rules. The co-pilot, however, was cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and has since resumed duties. Authorities say further investigations are ongoing, with renewed calls for stricter crew monitoring, enforcement of safety regulations, and enhanced training to prevent a repeat of the incident.
