The Senate Committee on Aviation exonerates Air Peace Airline following a July 13 runway overshoot

The Senate Committee on Aviation exonerates Air Peace Airline following a July 13 runway overshoot 

Air Peace Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema was exonerated of any wrongdoing following a July 13 runway overshoot at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The Senate Committee on Aviation made the clearance after a session that included a mild exchange between committee members and Air Peace Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema.

The key aviation regulators were the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)—informed the committee that their investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

The committee’s decision followed a one-hour closed-door session with Onyema and other stakeholders. The meeting was convened after Onyema objected to its title, arguing it was unfair to single out his airline for an incident that occurs globally.

In his words:

“I initially did not want to honour this invitation, but on second thought, I came because Senate members are our customers,” Onyema said. “However, I must correct certain impressions created by the title used for this session.”

He cautioned that public discussions on aviation safety must be handled responsibly to avoid damaging reputations. “Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world,” Onyema explained. “The aircraft had no mechanical issues and was not damaged. The pilot, who has flown for nearly 40 years, simply had a bad day.”

Following the closed-door meeting, the committee, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, declared the airline blameless. Senator Buhari stated the committee’s review found inconsistencies in the initial NSIB report that could tarnish Nigeria’s aviation image.

“Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own. We must support them,” Buhari said. “The most important thing is that no lives were lost, and the aircraft was not damaged.”

In her presentation, FAAN Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safety. “There were no reported injuries to the 96 passengers and seven crew members onboard. All were safely evacuated,” she said, noting the runway was temporarily closed in line with standard safety protocols.