Air Peace: I Noticed Captain’s Approach Wasn’t Stable, I Advised Him – Co-Pilot Reveal

Air Peace: I Noticed Captain’s Approach Wasn’t Stable, I Advised Him – Co-Pilot Reveal

Air Peace co-pilot, David Bernard, has shared his account of the incident involving the airline at Port Harcourt Airport in Rivers State.

Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Bernard said he noticed that the captain’s approach was not stable, adding that he advised bim, but the captain would not listen.

According to him, the captain was not following the Landing System that is normally used during landing.

“The incident happened on the 13th of July, 2025. I was the pilot monitoring officer that day. It was good weather and good visibility.

“Everything was going well and smoothly until 500 feet, when the captain disconnected the autopilot to manual to fly the plane for the approach.

“So as he disconnected the autopilot 500 feet, he was becoming high on the approach. I advised him that, Commander, you are high for this approach, we should initiate a go around. And he didn’t listen to me.

“And he continued the approach. We crossed the runway at about 200 feet. That’s the threshold. We came to land just after the middle of the runway.

“And he was so reluctant to use the reverse. That’s the reverse thrust, which I had to do manually and bring the plane to a stop by myself,” he said.

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There was an allegation that the captain took ‘something’. Airpeace, please this is a new low. Act quick. Act fast. NCAA do something. Do more. We have enough issues on our hands already. Let’s not add unsafe aviation.

Chijioke Precious
14 September, 2025