Senate probes Air Peace runway incident, flags drug use among pilots

The Senate has begun a thorough investigation into the Air Peace runway overrun incident that occurred on June 22 at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The probe follows a motion by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (APC–Oyo) during Wednesday’s plenary, which drew attention to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report on the incident involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 aircraft.

While no casualties were recorded, the NSIB report highlighted serious safety concerns, including poor runway conditions, lack of airfield lighting, and weak regulatory oversight.

Abdulfatai warned that the growing number of runway-related incidents and near-misses in recent years could erode public confidence in air travel and endanger lives if not urgently addressed.

In its resolutions, the Senate directed the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to immediately implement the safety recommendations outlined in the NSIB report.

It further urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to strengthen compliance monitoring, conduct regular safety audits of airports, and enforce strict adherence to international aviation standards.

FAAN was also instructed to prioritise the rehabilitation of runways, install airfield lighting, and upgrade navigational aids nationwide, beginning with Port Harcourt International Airport.

During deliberations, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC–Abia) expressed concern over alleged drug use and inadequate supervision among pilots, calling it a “deadly and growing threat” to aviation safety.

“I have personally refused to fly on occasions when pilots appeared unprepared. Some rely on external help, while others even use substances before flights, and authorities look the other way,” Kalu said.

He accused aviation agencies, including the NCAA and NEMA, of failing to conduct routine drug and health checks on flight crews before takeoff, describing the negligence as unacceptable.

Kalu also called for urgent upgrades to airport infrastructure, stressing that “safety begins from the ground.”

“Our runways are in deplorable condition. The government must fix them and ensure that pilots and crew meet global safety standards. Passenger safety and Nigeria’s aviation reputation depend on it,” he added.

The Senate Committee on Aviation has been mandated to submit a detailed report within four weeks, outlining its findings and proposed corrective actions.