Nosa Osula-Aituamen
A dramatic incident occurred at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Tuesday night when a Max Air aircraft carrying 53 passengers and 6 crew members had a front tyre burst on landing leading to panic onboard.
The plane, which was arriving from Lagos, experienced the tyre failure and subsequent fire upon landing, prompting an emergency evacuation.
According to a passenger, the incident occurred at around 10:19 pm, with smoke filling the aircraft cabin.
Passengers were evacuated through the emergency exit door, and fire servicemen quickly responded to contain the flame.
Fortunately, all on board were safely evacuated, with no reported injuries or fatalities.
Malam Bello Ramalan, Kano Station Manager of Max Air, apologized for the inconvenience and expressed gratitude for the safety of all on board.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria via phone call, he stated that the airline followed standard procedures for such occurrence on landing and is cooperating with investigation authorities.
“The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Aircraft and Equipment Department (AED) are investigating the incident,” Ramalan said.
“Preliminary reports suggest a tire issue caused the crash landing.”
Max Air emphasized that safety is their top priority, and they will implement necessary corrective actions based on the investigation’s findings.
The airline has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its passengers and crew.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB and further details will be released as more information becomes available.