Flight operations of landing and departure have resumed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) following the bursting of the front tyre of a Max Air plane while landing.
Officials at the airport confirmed this to LEADERSHIP yesterday, saying the aircraft was moved away from the runway at about 4:00 am and the landing and departure resumed at 8:00am.
A statement issued by the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) and signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, confirmed that the plane did not crash land but had an incident of a tyre bursting while landing.
“On January 28, 2024, at 10:50 LT, a Max Air Boeing 737, registration 5N-MBD, experienced a nose wheel landing gear collapse and a rear tire burst while landing on Runway 06/24 at MAKIA. On board the aircraft were 53 passengers and 6 crew members. Fortunately, there were no injuries to the passengers or the crew members on board.
“Emergency services responded promptly, and the incident was managed according to the emergency response plan. The aircraft has been towed to Bay 5 for further investigation, which is ongoing by Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to determine the root cause of the incident.
“The runway was opened at 08:00hrs, after cleaning and normal flight operations have resumed” part of the statement reads.
Earlier, a passenger onboard the airline told newsmen that immediately on landing, the aircraft’s tyre burst into flames, and smoke enveloped the inside of the aircraft. After that, they exited the aircraft through the emergency exit door.
‘’As we were coming out of the aircraft, the fire servicemen were already spraying the plane with water to contain the flame.”
Also, the manager of Max Air, Malam Bello Ramalan, said all the passengers and crew members were safely evacuated while he apologised for the incident.
“I would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused and express my gratitude to God for the safety of everyone on board. Our primary concern is always the safety of our passengers and crew.
“In accordance with standard procedures, our team followed the necessary protocols for a crash landing and overshooting the runway. These procedures include the immediate evacuation of passengers, isolation of the pilots, and coordination with investigation authorities.
“We are currently working with the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Aircraft and Equipment Department (AED) to investigate the incident. Preliminary reports indicate that a tyre issue caused the incident.
“At Max Air, safety is our top priority, and we take all necessary measures to ensure the well-being of our passengers and crew. We will continue to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the incident and implement any necessary corrective actions.
“Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience caused”, he stated.
