Two Air Peace crew members have rejected the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB) report alleging they tested positive for alcohol and marijuana after the airline’s runway incursion at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.
The NSIB, in its preliminary findings, claimed toxicology tests showed traces of alcohol in co-pilot David Bernard and marijuana in cabin crew member Maduneme Victory. The bureau said the aircraft touched down far beyond the designated zone before veering off the runway, raising safety concerns.
However, both Bernard and Victory described the report as false and defamatory. In separate interviews, they maintained they had never consumed prohibited substances and accused the NSIB of conducting tests at an unaccredited centre. Bernard argued that aviation-standard breathalyser tests were not used, while Victory noted that follow-up tests at an approved clinic returned negative results.
The crew members alleged the report was an attempt to tarnish their reputations and the airline’s image, threatening legal action if the NSIB failed to retract its claims.
Responding, NSIB Director-General Captain Alex Badeh dismissed suggestions of a smear campaign, insisting the toxicology tests were carried out by Rivers State Hospital Management and are part of the official investigation.
All passengers and crew had disembarked safely after the July 13 incident, but the dispute over the toxicology results has now sparked a fresh controversy in the aviation sector.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
