NCAA: Our investigation didn’t indict Air Peace co-pilot in P’Harcourt runway excursion

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says its investigation did not indict the Air Peace co-pilot involved in the Port Harcourt runway incident.

An Air Peace plane, on July 13, veered off the runway after landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA director of public affairs and consumer protection, explained in an X space on Saturday that investigators found an issue with the pilot involved, who has since been retired.

However, the director said the co-pilot was cleared to continue flying as investigations did not show the co-pilot culpable in that incident.

“The co-pilot, I was told yesterday that the NCAA is being blamed for giving him clearance, reinstating his license. The preliminary reports did not indict the guy. Our own investigations also did not show the co-pilot call people in that incident,” he said.

“He did what he was supposed to do. He told the captain to go around. Captain did not. If the investigation is going to last for a year, you don’t keep someone who is not culpable waiting for a year for the completion of investigations.

“For the crew member, the investigating body did not inform that this person had this outcome from their test. For medical tests like this in aviation, there are NCAA approved medical facilities that must run those tests.

“For alcohol, breathalysers are used. And those breathalysers must be calibrated according to the specifications of the regulations. The question to be begged is, was it that kind of breathalyser that was used, or why blood?”

The director added that there are still a lot more questions that need to be answered on every side, especially on the the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) side.

On September 11, NCAA said the NSIB alleged in a toxicology report that an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot, who flew the aircraft involved in the airway that veere off the runway tested positive for alcohol.

Afterwards, an Air Peace crew member accused of drug intake dismissed the NSIB’s claim as a smear campaign, threatening legal action within 72 hours unless the report is retracted.

‘NSIB DID NOT SEND REPORT FROM INVESTIGATION TO NCAA BEFORE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT’

Achimugu said the NSIB did not send the toxicology report on the runway excursion to the agency before making it public, as the report only got to the authority after the bureau had gone to the press.

“The report only came to us after they had gone to press. Our duty here is to examine the issues, and we must write an LOI to the airline. When you write an LOI to the airline, you have seven days to respond at the most. Yesterday was Friday,” he said.

“Maybe because of the airline’s reaction, you know, it has generated a lot of interest, and then everybody wants to talk about it immediately.”

The director explained that the authority needs time to critically examine the report and the airline’s response.

“If they (NSIB) have given us some time to look into the issue, we would be able to have a proper response immediately as theirs was coming out,” the spokesperson said.

“But this is where we are now, and it will take a few more days for these things to become clearer.

“Of course, I know that when the preliminary report was released to the NCAA, the crew and the captain were summoned by the NCAA, our directorate of licensing, and they were interviewed.

“Based on that interview, they were sent to aeromedical, where another test was run. This is part of why I also delayed coming out to speak since yesterday. I have asked for a copy of the result of their test with the NCAA aeromedical.

“When I get that report, perhaps my DGCA may have had access to that report, because he was (not) in the country before, he just came in yesterday.

“He may be given that report today to see if it’s any different from what NSIB has released as well. It is only when these investigations have been completed properly before a position can be stated clearly.”

Achimugu advised that the masses hold on and wait until the NCAA officially speaks, then further discussions can follow.