In brief
A recent incident in Nigeria involved a plane veering off the runway, leading to alcohol tests for the pilot and co-pilot. The pilot failed the test and has been dismissed, while the co-pilot has been reinstated after being acquitted. Investigations by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) are ongoing.
A pilot and co-pilot have tested positive for alcohol after the plane they were operating veered off the runway when landing in Nigeria. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) screened the pair after the accident in July, at the Port Harcourt International Airport. In addition, a crew member tested positive for cannabis.All 103 people on board the Boeing 737 at the time of the incident were unharmed. Air Peace, the company that operated the flight, confirmed that the 64-year-old pilot was sacked for failing to adhere to safety regulations, while the co-pilot has since returned to his role.In a statement, Air Peace acknowledged that the co-pilot was acquitted by the national regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), following preliminary investigations and a clean bill of health. Tests carried out by the NSIB found that both the pilot and co-pilot tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG), indicating recent alcohol consumption, while a cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.Air Peace stated it had yet to receive any toxicology test results from the NSIB, despite the testing occurring less than an hour after the incident. The pilot had accumulated over 18,000 hours of flying time, while the co-pilot had almost 1,200 hours.The NSIB has indicated that investigations are ongoing and has recommended improved training and reinforcement of internal procedures. Despite no fatal plane crashes in Nigeria for several years, there have been incidents of aircraft overshooting runways and bursting tires during landings. Recently, aviation authorities launched a new flight data center to enhance aircraft safety, but stakeholders believe additional protective measures and advanced technology are crucial.
