…No passenger injured as NSIB commences investigation
By Chinelo Obogo
A Max Air Boeing 737, with registration 5N-MBD, experienced a nose wheel landing gear collapse and a rear tyre burst while landing on Runway 06/24 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Tuesday, January 28, 2024, at 10:50pm.
The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Obiageli Orah, confirmed the incident, saying the aircraft had 53 passengers and six crew members onboard the aircraft and no one suffered any injury.
A landing gear collapse is usually classified as a serious incident under ICAO Annex 19 and it usually occurs when the front landing gear of an aircraft fails to properly support the aircraft during landing, takeoff, or taxiing.
“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 Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to determine the root cause of the incident. The runway was opened at 08:00hrs, after cleaning and normal flight operations have resumed,” Orah said.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) also gave a statement on the incident, saying it has launched an investigation into the
incident. NSIB’s Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, said the aircraft, flying from Lagos to Kano with 53 passengers and six crew members onboard, landed on runway 06. During the deceleration phase, while still under 60 knots and with the thrust reversers engaged, she said a loud bang was heard, followed by the aircraft veering sharply to the left.
“The flight crew promptly regained control and safely brought the aircraft to a stop. All 53 passengers and crew members safely disembarked, and no injuries were reported. The NSIB has deployed its GoTeam to the site of the incident. The team’s investigation will focus on identifying the root cause, including any technical, operational, or procedural lapses,” she said.