A MAX Air aircraft has reportedly crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, after the tyre burst into flames.
The aircraft had arrived from Yola, Adamawa State when the incident happened on Sunday, May 7.
It was reported that the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) operating at the airport quickly responded to extinguish the fire.
Confirming the incident, the former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, who was on the flight, said the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
He stated that the airplane crash-landed in Abuja, and emergency officials were already present to extinguish the fire, adding that the passengers were safely disembarked on the runway.
The incident caused panic among the passengers, who went into a prayer session to seek divine intervention.
“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.”
Another official of the airline who spoke to Daily Trust on the incident, said the passengers and crew members are safe after disembarking from the airline.
He stressed that the airline would officially inform the appropriate authorities to carry out an investigation into the incident.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M