By Chinelo Obogo, Lagos
A Max Air commercial flight, NGL1649, experienced a mechanical failure during takeoff at Yola Airport with 113 passengers and six crew members on board.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed the incident. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, was scheduled to depart for Abuja.
According to the statement, the aircraft was preparing for takeoff when a loud bang was heard, later identified as the bursting of the rear gear tyres.
“Initially, two tyres burst,” the statement explained. “While the flight crew attempted to taxi the aircraft off the runway, the remaining two tyres also burst, leaving the aircraft completely disabled on the runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew members.”
The NSIB has responded swiftly, deploying a team led by Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. to the site on the morning of 22 July 2024. The team will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the tyre failures.
The NSIB assured the public that they are following safety protocols to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.