After a mild face-off between members of the Senate Committee on Aviation and the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema, over the runway overshooting that occurred on July 13 this year at the Port Harcourt International Airport, the committee has given Air Peace a clean bill of health.
However, key stakeholders in the aviation sector, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), told the committee that investigations into the incident had not yet been concluded.
The committee’s clearance of Air Peace came after a closed-door session lasting over an hour between the lawmakers and aviation stakeholders—a meeting hurriedly convened after the Air Peace boss objected to the rationale for the hearing’s title.
As mandated by the Senate, the hearing was titled: “One-Day Investigative Hearing on the Need to Strengthen Aviation Safety Following the NSIB Report on Air Peace Runway Overrun at Port Harcourt Airport.”
The title, however, was vehemently opposed by Onyema.
Objecting to the session, Onyema argued that the investigative hearing should not have focused solely on Air Peace, noting that runway overruns occur globally across various airlines.
“I initially did not want to honour this invitation, but on second thought, I came because Senate members are our customers, and they have every right to be concerned about safety. I must, however, correct certain impressions created by the title or topic used for this session,” Onyema said.
“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. Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria,” he added.
Onyema clarified that the Air Peace aircraft involved in the incident suffered no mechanical fault or damage, explaining that the runway excursion was caused by human error.
“The aircraft in question had no single damage. It flew back to Lagos the same day. The pilot has flown for nearly 40 years — one of the most experienced in our fleet. He 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 stated.
Moved by his submission, the committee, led by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), went into a closed-door session with Onyema and other stakeholders. After deliberation, the committee exonerated Air Peace from any wrongdoing regarding the runway overshoot.
Specifically, the committee chairman, Senator Buhari, said:
“The Senate’s review of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report revealed serious inconsistencies and uncoordinated findings, which could damage Nigeria’s aviation reputation before international regulators if left uncorrected.
Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own. We need to support them, not damage their reputation with unverified claims.”
“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.”
Senator Buhari commended Air Peace and other indigenous airlines for maintaining strong internal safety checks and conducting random testing of pilots and staff, insisting that Nigeria should “encourage rather than destroy” its local carriers.
Earlier, in her submission before the committee, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the agency’s commitment to safety was tested during the Air Peace runway overrun incident on July 13, 2025 — a situation that the Port Harcourt International Airport Emergency Response Team efficiently managed.
