Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, experienced a significant malfunction during its takeoff roll on Sunday evening, July 21, 2024 at Yola Airport.
The aircraft, which was carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, was cleared for takeoff en route to Abuja when a loud bang was heard, later identified as the bursting of the rear gear tyres.
Initial reports confirmed that two tyres burst during the takeoff roll. The situation further escalated when the remaining two tyres also burst as the crew attempted to taxi off the runway, rendering the aircraft completely immobilised.
According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) “Fortunately, no injuries were reported. A go-team, led by NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr., will visit the incident site tomorrow morning(today) to conduct an investigation. “
This incident adds to a series of concerns regarding Max Air’s safety record. In 2023, a report by the NSIB indicted the airline for overwriting the Cockpit Voice Recorder data following a serious incident that occurred on May 7, 2023, during landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, emphasised the importance of the forthcoming investigation and reiterated the commitment to ensuring passenger safety and adherence to aviation regulation.
What to know
Recall that Nairametrics had earlier reported an incident involving a private jet carrying about 10 individuals, including Very Important Personalities (VIPs), which crash-landed and overshot the runway at Ibadan airport in Oyo State. The incident occurred on Friday, January 26, 2024, around 11 am at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. The jet, with registration number N580KR, missed the runway and skidded into the nearby bush.
Also, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the operating license of Mattini Airline Services Ltd pending the completion of investigations into the runway excursion involving a Challenger CL 601 aircraft operated by the firm. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) also stated that it had commenced an investigation into the serious incident.
In a related development, Nairametrics reported in May that the NSIB announced an investigation into the derailment of a train coach on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor at Jeremy Station. Some train coaches were reported to have derailed, but fortunately, all passengers on board arrived at their destinations safely. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in a statement signed by Deputy Director of Public Relations Yakub Mahmood, confirmed that normal train services between Kaduna-Rigasa and Idu-Abuja are continuing as usual.
Additionally, a team of NRC engineers was deployed to the site to restore the affected locations and prevent future derailments. The NRC further assured passengers of their safety and comfort, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining high safety standards and reliable services.