Plane crash lands at Abuja airport
*** As FAAN, AIB-N reacted
There was panic at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday when a Max Air aircraft crash-landed after the tyre reportedly burst into flames.
The aircraft had arrived from Yola, Adamawa State. when the incident happened.
The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) operates at the airport were swiftly mobilised to put off the fire.
Former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, who gave an account of the incident said the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
However, the aircraft crash-landed in Abuja with emergency officials already on ground to put off the fire before the passengers were disembarked right at the runway.
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.”
The passengers were safely disembarked from the runway while the runway has been temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.
An official of the airline who confirmed the incident said the passengers safely disembarked.
He expressed gratitude to God for the safety of all the passengers and crew members.
He said the airline would officially inform the appropriate authorities to carry out an investigation into the incident.
- However, FAAN and AIB-N said that the runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was shut down on Sunday after an emergency landing involving Max Air aircraft.
Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), confirmed the closure of the airport.
“It involves one of the domestic airlines, but I don’t have the details. We will get to know the details later. The airplane had an emergency landing,” he said.
Mike Ogirima, a former President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA}, who was on the aircraft when the incident occurred, has a said the tyre of Max Air aircraft burst after takeoff at Yola Airport.
The aircraft made emergency landing in Abuja with emergency officials already on ground to address the issue before the passengers disembarked at the runway.
“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,” Ogirima said.
“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.”
The passengers were safely disembarked from the runway while the runway has been temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.
Adetunji Oketumbi, General Manager (Public Affairs), in Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N), also confirmed the incidentsaid: “there is an occurrence at the Abuja airport and our team are on their way to the place.
“I have told them to update me when they get there,” he said.
Oketumbi said he needed to be verify the details with his team who were almost at the place of the incident.
