Air Peace Incident Raises Safety Concerns in Nigeria

On July 13, 2025, an Air Peace Boeing 737 carrying 103 people landed in Port Harcourt but veered off the runway. Fortunately, all passengers and crew walked away safely, and there were no casualties or fire.

However, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau later described the event as an unstable final approach, raising concerns about aviation safety. A preliminary report indicated the presence of alcohol biomarkers in the pilot and cannabis compounds in a cabin crew member, which is atypical under normal circumstances.

The toxicology tests took ten days to process, leading to questions about the credibility of the aviation safety protocols. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has since moved in a different direction, allowing the co-pilot to return to active duty without public explanation.

Minister of Aviation Keyamo, who has been publicly supportive of Air Peace, faces scrutiny over the regulatory oversight and the implications of the incident on aviation safety standards in Nigeria.