A Max Air aircraft carrying 119 passengers and six crew members experienced a tyre burst during takeoff from Yola Airport on Sunday evening. The Boeing 737 aircraft, with registration 5N-ADB, was headed to Abuja when the incident occurred.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), “During the takeoff roll, a loud bang was heard, identified as the bursting of the rear gear tyres. Initially, two tyres burst. While attempting to taxi off the runway, the remaining two tyres also burst, rendering the aircraft completely disabled.”
Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported. “Fortunately, no injuries were reported,” said NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. “A go-team, led by myself, will visit the incident site tomorrow morning to conduct an investigation.”
This incident comes after a previous report by NSIB in 2023 indicted Max Air for overwriting the Cockpit Voice Recorder of a serious incident that occurred on May 7, 2023, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The report also accused the airline of ignoring NCAA regulations regarding CVR information.
“We take the safety of our passengers and crew seriously,” said a Max Air spokesperson. “We are cooperating fully with the investigation and will take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Max Air’s operations, and the investigation is expected to shed more light on the cause of the tyre burst and the airline’s safety protocols.
