Runway Overshoot: Senate Clears Air Peace of Wrongdoing …As FAAN, NSIB, and Other Stakeholders Confirm Ongoing Investigation

By Iyojo Ameh

The Senate Committee on Aviation has given Air Peace Airlines a clean bill of health following its July 13 runway overshoot at the Port Harcourt International Airport. This came after a mild exchange between the committee members and Air Peace Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, during an investigative session in Abuja.

However, key aviation regulators, 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 were still ongoing.

The committee’s decision followed a one-hour closed-door session with Onyema and other aviation stakeholders. The meeting was convened after Onyema objected to the session’s title: “One-Day Investigative Hearing on the Need to Strengthen Aviation Safety Following the NSIB Report on Air Peace Runway Overrun at Port Harcourt Airport.”

Onyema argued that it was unfair to single out Air Peace, noting that runway overshoots occur globally among various airlines.

“I initially did not want to honour this invitation, but on second thought, I came because Senate members are our customers and have every right to be concerned about safety. However, I must correct certain impressions created by the title used for this session,” he said.

He cautioned that public discussions on aviation safety must be handled responsibly to avoid damaging the reputation of the NSIB or Nigerian airlines.

“Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria. The aircraft in question had no mechanical issues and was not damaged. It flew back to Lagos the same day. The pilot, who has flown for nearly 40 years, simply had a bad day. Unfortunately, early reports gave the wrong impression that the aircraft was faulty or the pilots were intoxicated,” Onyema explained.

Following his submission, the committee, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), met behind closed doors with Onyema and other stakeholders before declaring the airline blameless in the incident.

Senator Buhari said the committee’s review of the NSIB report revealed inconsistencies that could tarnish Nigeria’s aviation image if not properly addressed.

“Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own. We must support them rather than 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 flown back safely to Lagos,” he stated.

He praised Air Peace and other local airlines for maintaining high safety standards and regularly testing pilots and staff, urging support for indigenous carriers.

In her presentation, FAAN Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safety, noting that its emergency response team at Port Harcourt International Airport handled the incident efficiently.

“There were no reported injuries to the 96 passengers and seven crew members onboard. All were safely evacuated to the terminal. The runway was temporarily closed in line with safety protocols, and coordination began with the NCAA and NAMA for investigation and internal safety review,” she said.