A MaxAir passenger aircraft crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday after its tyre reportedly burst into flames.
All passengers and crew aboard the aircraft, which had arrived from Yola, Adamawa State when the incident happened, survived the scary incident.
The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) operatives at the airport were swiftly mobilised to rescue passengers and crew, and put off the fire, which ensued after the plane crash-landed.
One of the passengers, former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, who gave an account of the incident, said he noticed the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
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 to Daily Trust 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.
(Daily Trust)
