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The Senate has exonerated Air Peace, from allegations of negligence and drug use by its pilots in the July 13, 2024 runway overrun incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport. This followed an investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Aviation. Speaking after the session on Thursday, Abdulfatai Buhari, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation said the Senate’s review of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report revealed “serious inconsistencies and uncoordinated findings,” warning that such lapses could harm Nigeria’s aviation reputation before international regulators if not corrected. The investigative session, attended by Allen Onyema, Air Peace chairman and CEO, and representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), examined ways to strengthen aviation safety and restore public confidence in domestic air travel following the incident. Buhari, who represents Oyo North Senatorial District, expressed concern that the NSIB’s preliminary report was “riddled with contradictions” initially alleging drug use among several Air Peace crew members before later revising the claim to only two individuals. Read also: Air Peace commences Abuja–Heathrow flight, strengthening Nigeria’s global aviation footprint “You can see that, unfortunately, most of those allegations are not true,” the lawmaker 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 senator commended Air Peace and other domestic carriers for maintaining strong internal safety systems, including random testing of pilots and staff. He said Nigeria should “encourage rather than destroy” its local airlines. “Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own. We need to support them, not damage their reputation with unverified claims,” Buhari said. “The most important thing is that no lives were lost, and the aircraft was not damaged. It was towed and later flown back safely to Lagos.” He disclosed that the committee’s forthcoming report would include recommendations to enhance the quality and coordination of aviation investigations in Nigeria. Buhari stressed that the goal of the Senate inquiry was “not to witch-hunt any operator” but to ensure industry-wide safety improvements. He also hinted that the Senate might soon consider a bill requiring all federal agencies and officials to patronize Nigerian airlines for official travel, a move aimed at boosting the local aviation sector. Earlier, Allen Onyema Air Peace Chairman, had defended his company’s safety record before the committee, describing the NSIB report and ensuing public speculation as “unfair and damaging” to a proudly Nigerian airline that operates under 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 they have every right to be concerned about safety. I must, however, correct certain impressions created by the NSIB’s handling of this matter.” Onyema clarified that the aircraft involved in the incident suffered no mechanical fault or damage, noting that the runway excursion was a result of human error. “The aircraft in question had no single damage. It flew back to Lagos the same day,” he 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 appear as if the aircraft was faulty or the pilots were intoxicated.” He further explained that Air Peace maintains a self-regulating culture that is often stricter than that of foreign carriers, even grounding entire fleets when necessary. “I once grounded eight aircraft in a single day after discovering that a maintenance planner made a mistake on one of our ERJ planes,” Onyema said. “We could have hidden it, but we reported it ourselves to the NCAA. That is how seriously we take safety.” Onyema cautioned that misleading narratives and sensational reports could damage Nigeria’s international aviation image and make local operators targets of undue scrutiny abroad. “What we say here is being monitored globally. We must be careful not to impugn the integrity of the NSIB or destroy public trust in Nigerian airlines,” he said. “Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria.” The hearing, which at times grew emotional, later went into an executive session to allow a closed-door review of confidential reports and safety data. Before adjourning, Senator Buhari reassured Onyema that the Senate’s intention was not to indict any airline but to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector. “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 Committee on Aviation is expected to recommend a more transparent and collaborative system for aviation accident investigations, one that balances accountability with the need to protect public confidence in Nigerian airlines crucial to the country’s economic and transport development.
