BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released its preliminary report on the serious incident involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-524 aircraft, registration 5N-BQQ, which occurred on July 13, 2025, at the Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The aircraft, operating a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, experienced an unstabilised final approach before landing long on Runway 21.
According to the report, the aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and eventually came to a halt 209 metres into the clearway.
Despite the incident, all passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.
However, initial toxicology tests conducted on the flight crew raised red flags.
“The results revealed positive indicators for alcohol consumption in members of the flight crew,” the report stated. In addition, a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.
The Bureau explained that these results are being examined under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation. “These findings are being reviewed carefully to establish their relevance to the incident and any wider implications for aviation safety,” NSIB noted.
In response, the Bureau has issued immediate safety recommendations directed at Air Peace.
These include strengthening crew resource management (CRM) training, particularly in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, and reinforcing internal procedures for monitoring crew fitness-for-duty before flight dispatch.
Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, stressed that the preliminary report represents only early findings.
“This is not the final word. The investigation remains ongoing, and the final report will present detailed conclusions along with further safety recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria,” she said.
The NSIB also reminded the public that preliminary reports are designed to share factual information gathered in the early stages of investigations, but they remain subject to further analysis.
The full report has been made available for download on the Bureau’s official website.
The Air Peace aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 737-524, a widely used model for short- to medium-haul routes.
Aviation experts say that while unstabilised approaches are not uncommon, they require decisive action from pilots, including the option to execute a go-around, rather than attempt a risky landing.
By highlighting the importance of crew discipline and fitness, the NSIB report underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining the highest standards of safety in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
As the Bureau continues its investigation, stakeholders across the industry will be watching closely for the final report, which is expected to offer deeper insights and more comprehensive safety measures.
For now, the safe evacuation of all 103 persons aboard the Port Harcourt flight remains a reminder of aviation’s layered safety protocols—designed to prevent accidents even when incidents occur.
