January 29, (THEWILL) – The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has confirmed that a Max Air Boeing 737 aircraft, with registration number 5N-MBD, suffered a nose wheel landing gear collapse and a rear tire burst while landing at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday night.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:50 pm, did not result in any casualties, as all 53 passengers and six crew members on board were safely evacuated.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, said emergency response teams acted swiftly to manage the situation.
“Emergency services responded promptly, and the incident was managed according to the emergency response plan,” she stated.
Orah further disclosed that the aircraft had been moved to Bay 5 for a detailed investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to ascertain the cause of the malfunction. She added that normal flight operations resumed at 8:00 am on Wednesday after the runway was cleared.
Meanwhile, Max Air’s Kano Station Manager, Malam Bello Ramalan, apologized for the disruption caused by the incident and reassured passengers of the airline’s commitment to safety.
“I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank God for the safety of everyone on board. Our primary concern remains the well-being of our passengers and crew,” he said.
Ramalan explained that the airline’s response followed standard crash landing and overshooting procedures, including the immediate evacuation of passengers, isolation of the pilots, and coordination with investigation authorities.
He confirmed that preliminary findings suggested a tire issue was responsible for the landing mishap.
“At Max Air, safety is our top priority, and we take all necessary precautions to protect our passengers and crew. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to determine the cause and implement any corrective measures,” he added.
The airline also assured affected passengers that efforts were underway to retrieve and return their luggage as soon as possible.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
