Passengers escape death as tyres of Abuja-bound Max Air plane burst during take-off
No fewer than 119 passengers have cheated death after a Max airline aircraft lost four tyres while attempting to take off from the Yola Airport in Adamawa on Sunday evening.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB and flight number NGL1649, had six of its tyres burst during the takeoff roll and subsequent taxiing off the runway.
In a statement released by Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), it was reported that the incident occurred as the aircraft was cleared for takeoff.
During the takeoff roll, a loud bang was heard, later identified as the bursting of the rear gear tyres.
Olawumi noted that initially, two tyres burst. While attempting to taxi off the runway, the remaining two tyres also burst, rendering the aircraft completely disabled. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew.
The statement revealed that a go-team led by Alex Badeh, the NSIB Director General, will visit the incident site to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the tyre bursts and to ensure all safety protocols were followed.
This incident follows closely after Max Air resumed its domestic operations post an audit by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
This is coming two months after an XeJet Airlines plane veered off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) who confirmed the incident said the aircraft, which departed Abuja, skidded off runway 18L on landing in Lagos — making a halt on “the grass verge.”
According to the agency, about 52 passengers were on board the ill-fated aircraft, with the call sign 5NBZZ.
“NSIB confirms that an aircraft belonging to Xejet airlines skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport this morning. A go team has been deployed to the site of the incident,” the statement reads.
“Fire and Rescue on ground to help in evacuation of the passengers.”
On September 1, 2023, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the air operator certificate (AOC) and air transport licence (AOL) of XeJet over the “inability to authenticate ” the airline’s insurance documents.
The authority said the suspension followed the inability of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to verify the authenticity of the aircraft insurance documents.
