The management of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) has claimed that normalcy has returned at MAKIA, after evacuating the Max Air aircraft that experienced a nose wheel landing gear collapse and a rear tire burst while landing on the runway.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, and made available to the press in Kano.
She said that “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.”
It will be recalled that the Max Air aircraft, with 59 persons on board, narrowly escaped a fatal incident, as the aircraft experienced a nose wheel landing gear collapse and a rear tire burst while landing on Runway 06/24 at MAKIA.
The statement reads: “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.”
Mrs Orah emphasised that “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 the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to determine the root cause of the incident.
Mrs Orah also emphasised that “The runway was opened at 08:00 hrs, after cleaning, and normal flight operations have resumed.”
However, a source who preferred anonymity disclosed that the incident happened when the aircraft with 53 passengers and 6 crew members arrived from Lagos.
It was stated that the plane’s front tyre burst into flames at about 10:19 pm, as confirmed by our source who was among the passengers.
The management refuted a rumour making the rounds that the Max Air aircraft crash-landed, adding that there was no iota of truth in the story going around.
According to the source, “Immediately the tyre of the aircraft burst into flames, smoke enveloped the interior of the aircraft, and we had to alight through the emergency exit door.”
He also added, “As we were coming out of the aircraft, the fire servicemen were already spraying the plane with water to contain the flames.”
While confirming the incident at the airport, the Kano Station Manager of Max Air, Malam Bello Ramalan, said all the passengers and crew members were safely evacuated.
He stated, “I would like to apologise 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.”
Ramalan then emphasised that “In accordance with standard procedures, our team followed the necessary protocols for a crash landing and overshooting the runway.”
He added: “These procedures include the immediate evacuation of passengers, isolation of the pilots, and coordination with investigation authorities.”
According to him, “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 tire issue caused the incident.”
Ramalan highlighted that “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 apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our passengers. We will do our best to ensure that your luggage is returned to you as soon as possible,” he said.
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