The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has provided clarity on its decision to clear the co-pilot involved in an Air Peace incident, despite a Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report implicating some crew members for drug and alcohol use.
The incident occurred on Sunday, June 13, when an Air Peace plane veered off the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport after touching down well beyond the recommended touchdown zone. Fortunately, the aircraft sustained no damage.
Following medical tests, the NSIB indicted several crew members for traces of alcohol and hard drugs in their systems. However, Air Peace disputed these findings, defending the safety record of its crew.
Speaking during a recent discussion on X (formerly Twitter), Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, emphasized that the aviation regulator conducted its own thorough investigation.
Both NCAA’s internal findings and the preliminary NSIB report cleared the co-pilot of any wrongdoing, which justified his return to duty.
Achimugu explained, “There were claims that NCAA cleared the first officer unjustly, but our investigations showed he was not at fault. In fact, the co-pilot advised the captain to abort the landing and go around, but the captain didn’t follow this advice. Given these facts, it would be unfair to keep him grounded during an ongoing investigation without evidence of misconduct.”
He also highlighted that airlines have their own internal safety policies and are required to submit compliance reports to NCAA.
“No matter how robust the regulations appear on paper, their effectiveness is truly tested during real incidents. That is why these rules undergo regular reviews and updates,” Achimugu added.
The NCAA’s Director noted that further actions on the matter would be handled by the Director-General, Captain Chris Najomo, who recently returned to Nigeria and is expected to address the issue formally.
Achimugu also mentioned that while NCAA uses approved testing centers and follows international protocols for post-incident assessments, some questions remain regarding the NSIB’s findings.
He is awaiting more detailed feedback from the Bureau to clarify certain inconsistencies.
During the X space discussion, participant Bamidele Badmos voiced concerns about Air Peace’s handling of the situation in the public eye.
He warned that downplaying such issues could damage the airline’s reputation and even jeopardize Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreements with other countries.
Badmos stressed the importance of applying regulatory standards fairly across the industry.
“Aviation demands the highest standards. When violations occur, immediate caution is necessary. Defending personnel prematurely or creating unnecessary noise only worsens matters,” he said.
He also advised airline staff to avoid informal media appearances or public statements that could complicate regulatory processes, urging that such matters be left to official spokespeople and experts.
