Passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were thrown into a state of panic as a Max Air aircraft crash-landed after a tyre reportedly burst into flames.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the affected aircraft had just arrived from Yola, Adamawa State.
Fortunately, the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) quickly mobilized to put out the fire.
Former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, gave an account of the incident, stating that the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
Ogirima said, “We thank God. We are still on the runway and pilot has reassured us. He has called for the stairs and we are now disembarking from the runway to be evacuated to the airport building at the arrival hall.
“We bless God because we have witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.”
Despite this, the aircraft was able to make it to Abuja before crash-landing, with emergency officials already on the ground to extinguish the fire before the passengers were disembarked at the runway.
The passengers were safely evacuated from the runway, while the runway itself was temporarily shut down until the aircraft could be removed.
An official from the airline later confirmed that all passengers and crew members were safe, expressing gratitude to God for their well-being.
This newspaper understands that the airline will now officially inform the appropriate authorities to investigate the incident.
