The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has temporarily closed the runway at Yola Airport following a serious incident involving a Max Air aircraft last weekend. The Boeing 737, with registration number 5N AD, was bound for Abuja and carried 199 passengers and six crew members when the incident occurred around 8 pm on Sunday.
Sources reported that the aircraft experienced a tire burst while on the runway after being cleared for take-off. Bimbo Oladimeji, Max Air’s Director of Public and Passenger Protection, stated that a loud bang was heard during take-off, leading to the initial tire burst. Subsequently, two other tires burst while the aircraft was attempting to taxi off the tarmac, necessitating its abandonment on the runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew, who were all safely evacuated.
A team led by Captain Alex Bade Jr, Director of the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB), inspected the disabled aircraft on Monday. FAAN’s Assistant General Manager of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwosu, confirmed that the runway would remain closed until the NSIB completed its investigation and the aircraft was removed.
