Air Peace has dismissed media reports linking one of its pilots to alcohol use in the aftermath of the July 13, 2025 incident involving one of its aircraft at Port Harcourt International Airport, describing the claims as misleading and unsubstantiated.
In a statement released by the airline, the management said it has not received any official communication from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on the purported preliminary report, despite the incident occurring over a month ago and crew testing for alcohol being conducted less than an hour after the occurrence.
“As a responsible airline, we place utmost priority on safety, transparency, and compliance,” the airline said, noting that it operates a stricter alcohol and drug use policy than regulations require.
Air Peace confirmed that the captain of the affected flight was dismissed, not for alcohol use, but for failing to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and ignoring his co-pilot’s call for a go-around. The airline emphasized that the first officer, who it described as demonstrating professionalism during the incident, has since been cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and reinstated into active duty.
“If the sacked captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, then we must increase the frequency of our alcohol and drug tests on our crew,” the airline said, stressing that no such confirmation has been communicated to it by NSIB.
Reaffirming its commitment to the highest safety standards, Air Peace announced plans to further strengthen internal monitoring, enforce stricter fitness-for-duty checks, and expand crew training in resource management.
The airline, which prides itself on maintaining a strong safety record, reassured its passengers and the Nigerian public that “safety will never be compromised in Air Peace.”
