A pilot and co-pilot have tested positive for alcohol after the plane they were operating veered off the runway while landing in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) screened the pair following the accident in July, at Port Harcourt International Airport. Additionally, a crew member tested positive for cannabis.
All 103 people on board the Boeing 737 during the incident were unharmed.
Air Peace, the airline that operated the flight, stated that the 64-year-old pilot was fired for failing to follow safety regulations, while the co-pilot, who has since returned to duty, was acquitted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) after preliminary investigations cleared him.
Tests conducted by NSIB indicated that the pilot and co-pilot tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG), an indicator of recent alcohol consumption, whereas a cabin crew member tested positive for THC, the active component in cannabis.
In a statement, Air Peace expressed that they had yet to receive any toxicology test results from the NSIB. They stated, We are yet to receive any official communication from the NSIB on such findings over a month after the incident and after the testing of the crew for alcohol which took place in less than an hour of the incident.
The involved pilot had around 18,000 hours of flying experience, while the co-pilot had logged about 1,200 hours.
The NSIB continues its investigation and has recommended improved training and better enforcement of internal procedures for aviation personnel.
There have been no plane crashes in Nigeria for several years, but occurrences of aircraft overshooting the runway and tire burst incidents during landing have been reported.
Earlier this month, aviation authorities in Nigeria launched a new flight data center aimed at enhancing aircraft safety, though stakeholders argue that further protective measures and improved technology are necessary in the sector.
