The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has released its findings on the July 13th incident involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-500, which overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The flight, which departed Lagos with 96 passengers and seven crew members, was expected to be routine. Weather conditions in Port Harcourt were clear, but investigators say the aircraft touched down almost three-quarters of the way along the 3,000-metre runway, making it impossible to stop safely. The plane eventually came to a halt on the grass verge. Thankfully, all passengers disembarked without injury.

Investigations revealed a disturbing detail both pilots tested positive for alcohol after the incident. One flight attendant also tested positive for cannabis. The Bureau noted that this raised serious concerns about discipline, professionalism, and safety culture within the airline.

Further analysis showed that while the younger first officer recommended a go-around when the aircraft crossed the runway threshold too high, the captain a 64-year-old with over 10,000 hours of experience insisted on continuing the landing. Safety experts describe such cockpit authority gaps as dangerous, because they can prevent critical decisions from being acted upon.

The Bureau has now directed Air Peace to strengthen its crew fitness checks and reinforce training on go-around procedures, stressing that abandoning an unstable approach is a vital safety step.

Though no lives were lost, the incident has become a stark reminder that alcohol, drugs, and aviation do not mix. Regulators insist that flying demands absolute discipline and there can be no compromise when safety is at stake.

(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)

— AMARACHI AMUCHIE