Air Peace Crew Deny NSIB’s Drug and Alcohol Findings After Runway Incident

An Air Peace co-pilot and cabin crew member are denying a official report that accused them of using alcohol and drugs. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) claimed the crew tested positive following a runway incident in July.

The event occurred on July 13th, 2025, when the Air Peace aircraft veered off the runway while landing in Port Harcourt. All passengers and crew safely disembarked, but the incident triggered a safety investigation.

The NSIB’s preliminary report stated toxicological tests showed alcohol in the flight crew’s systems. It also stated a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.

The accused co-pilot, David Bernard, insists he does not drink or smoke. He criticized the NSIB’s methods, questioning why they used blood and urine tests instead of a standard immediate breathalyzer. He also noted the results took an unusually long time to be released.

Cabin crew member Maduneme Victory also rejected the findings. She stated that after being notified weeks later, she immediately took a follow-up test at an aviation-approved clinic. That test, she says, came back completely negative.

Victory questioned the NSIB’s timeline, arguing that a genuine positive drug test should have grounded her immediately for safety reasons. She called the allegations defamatory and a threat to her career.

Both crew members have accused the NSIB of a smear campaign against Air Peace. They have threatened legal action if the report is not withdrawn. The NSIB has not yet publicly responded to these specific allegations.