The Senate on Thursday, cleared Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, of allegations of negligence and drug use by its pilots over the July 13, 2024 runway incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
This followed an investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Aviation, which reviewed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)’s preliminary report and found “serious inconsistencies and uncoordinated findings” in its conclusions.
Committee Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), said after the hearing on Thursday that the Senate’s review showed that the NSIB’s report contained contradictions that could damage Nigeria’s aviation reputation before international regulators if left unaddressed.
“You can see that, unfortunately, most of those allegations are not true,” Buhari said. “The report was disjointed and not coordinated. You don’t accuse people wrongly, especially in aviation, where ICAO and other international laboratories are monitoring us closely.”
The lawmaker disclosed that the NSIB had initially alleged drug use by several members of the Air Peace crew before later revising the claim to only two individuals, describing the process as “embarrassing and poorly handled.”
Buhari commended Air Peace and other indigenous airlines for maintaining strict internal safety standards, including regular random drug and alcohol tests for crew members.
“Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own,” he said. “We need to support them, not damage their reputation with unverified claims. The most important thing is that no lives were lost, and the aircraft suffered no damage. It was towed and later flown back safely to Lagos.”
The senator added that the committee’s forthcoming report would recommend reforms to improve the quality and coordination of aviation investigations in the country, emphasizing that the Senate’s objective was not to witch-hunt any operator but to strengthen public confidence and ensure aviation safety.
Buhari also hinted that the Senate might soon consider legislation compelling federal agencies and government officials to patronize Nigerian airlines for official trips as part of efforts to boost the local aviation industry.
Earlier, Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema, appeared before the committee to defend the airline’s safety record.
He described the NSIB’s preliminary report and the public speculation it triggered as “unfair and damaging” to the reputation of a proudly Nigerian airline that adheres to global safety standards.
“I initially did not want to honour this invitation,” Onyema said. “But on second thought, I came because the Senate members are our customers and have every right to be concerned about safety. I must, however, correct certain impressions created by the NSIB’s handling of this matter.”
He clarified that the aircraft involved in the incident suffered no mechanical faults and that the runway excursion resulted from human error.
“The aircraft in question had no single damage. It flew back to Lagos the same day,” Onyema said. “The pilot has flown for nearly 40 years—one of the most experienced in our fleet. He simply had a bad day. Unfortunately, the early report created confusion that made it seem as if the aircraft was faulty or the pilots were intoxicated.”
The Air Peace boss added that his company maintains a self-regulating culture even stricter than many foreign airlines, often grounding entire fleets when a potential anomaly is detected.
“I once grounded eight aircraft in one day after discovering that a maintenance planner made a mistake on one of our ERJ planes,” he recalled. “We could have hidden it, but we reported it ourselves to the NCAA. That is how seriously we take safety.”
Onyema warned that misleading narratives and sensational reports could harm Nigeria’s image before international aviation regulators and make local carriers targets of undue scrutiny abroad.
“What we say here is being monitored globally,” he said. “We must be careful not to impugn the integrity of our aviation agencies or destroy public trust in Nigerian airlines. Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria.”
The session, which occasionally grew emotional, later went into a closed-door meeting to review confidential safety documents.
Before adjourning, Senator Buhari assured Onyema that the Senate’s interest was to safeguard travelers and Nigeria’s aviation image, not to indict any operator.
“We are not here to destroy any business,” he said. “Our concern is the safety of Nigerian travelers and the reputation of our aviation industry. The Air Peace incident has shown the need for coordinated reporting and factual communication. Once the final report is ready, it will be presented before the full Senate.”
With this, the Senate appears set to recommend a more transparent and collaborative framework for accident investigations, one that promotes accountability while protecting confidence in indigenous airlines regarded as vital to Nigeria’s transport and economic development.
