A co-pilot, David Bernard, and cabin crew member, Maduneme Victory, have denied a Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report claiming they tested positive for alcohol and cannabis after an Air Peace aircraft veered off the runway in Port Harcourt on July 13, 2025.
The NSIB’s preliminary report said toxicology tests showed the presence of alcohol and THC. But Bernard insisted he does not drink or smoke, accusing the bureau of conducting tests at an “unrecognised centre” and releasing results 10 days later. Victory also faulted the process, noting that a reconfirmatory test at an NCAA-approved clinic cleared her. Both described the report as a smear campaign and threatened legal action.
Air Peace backed its staff, saying the co-pilot was cleared by the NCAA and had since returned to duty. The airline stressed it operates strict alcohol and drug policies, adding that the NSIB never formally communicated its findings.
NSIB Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh, dismissed claims of bias, insisting the toxicology tests were official and conducted by Rivers State Hospital.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about safety oversight in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with experts and passengers urging regulators to enforce stricter compliance to restore public confidence.
