No evidence against Air Peace co-pilot in Port Harcourt incident – NCAA

By Dickson Omobola

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Saturday, justified its determination to wide Air Peace co-pilot, David Bernard, successful the caller Port Harcourt airdrome runway excursion incident, saying its interior probe and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, study did not indict him.

On July 13, 2025, an Air Peace craft veered disconnected the runway portion landing astatine the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The NSIB, successful its preliminary investigation, revealed that the craft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold, good beyond the recommended touchdown zone, and yet came to a halt astatine 209 metres into the clearway.

After preliminary probe by the NSIB, it stated that “initial toxicological tests conducted connected the formation unit revealed affirmative results for definite substances, including indicators of intoxicant consumption. A compartment unit subordinate besides tested affirmative for THC, the psychoactive constituent successful cannabis.”

Although the hose unit and unit had denied the trial result, the NCAA, during an X space, said it adhered to owed process based connected the disposable facts and interior investigations.

Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection astatine the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said: “I learnt yesterday that the NCAA was being blamed for giving clearance to the archetypal officer. But based connected the NCAA interior findings and the NSIB preliminary report, the co-pilot was not recovered culpable.

“In fact, helium advised the skipper to spell around, which the skipper did not heed. Given that, we judge it is unjust to support idiosyncratic grounded for a twelvemonth portion an probe is ongoing if determination is nary grounds of wrongdoing.

“I person reached retired to the NSIB and spoken to their team, but I’m inactive waiting for broad feedback.”

The station No grounds against Air Peace co-pilot successful Port Harcourt incidental – NCAA appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.