The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has commenced investigation into a serious incident involving a B737-400 with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-MBD operated by Max Air, which occurred around 14:57pm yesterday.
The agency made this known in a statement issued on Monday by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Tunji Oketunbi.
The Max Air aircraft, with 144 passengers and six crew members onboard was en-route Abuja from Yola when it had a burst tyre on landing on the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
First responders arrived at the accident site and evacuated the passengers, with no injury or fatality recorded.
“The NSIB, hereby, solicit information from the general public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences to help assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation.
“The Bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909“, the statement further read.
On its part, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that media reports of the burst tyres incident as crash landing is incorrect.
“It has come to the notice of NCAA of sensational media reports of the incident, classifying it as a crash landing thus creating panic and concerns amongst the traveling public.
“The media are urged to seek clarifications and or information as to make accurate reports of any situation”, a statement signed by the DG-CA, Captain Musa Nuhu on Monday said.
Shedding more light on the incident, he said: “During landing at Abuja airport the aircraft lost some tires, the flight crew brought the aircraft to a safe stop on Runway 22 at 2:57pm local time.
“Abuja airport was shutdown due to the disabled aircraft on the runway, as Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport is a single runway airport. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by NAMA accordingly.
“All relevant agencies including NCAA, FAAN, NAMA and NSIB swung into action collaboratively to ensure the prompt removal of the disabled aircraft from the runway and reopening of the airport for flight operations. Several flights both domestic and international flights were stranded at Abuja airport , while incoming flights diverted to other airports.
“The damaged wheels of the aircraft were replaced and the aircraft taxied on its power from the runway to an assigned parking position. The runway was inspected and swept for damage and debris by officials of NCAA, FAAN and NAMA, after which the runway was declared safe. Subsequently, the airport was reopened for resumption of flight operations after 8pm”.
Nuhu stated that a thorough investigation will be conducted by NSIB and or NCAA to determine the root cause and make appropriate recommendations to prevent any recurrence of such incident.
He assured the traveling public that the NCAA and other aviation agencies will spare no efforts to ensure the continued safe flight operations in Nigeria as has been the case over several years.
Earlier, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had in a statement also condemned the sensational reportage of the incident, describing it as misleading.
According to the umbrella body of domestic airlines in the country, such reports creates unnecessary fears in the minds of the unsuspecting flying public, and, as such, counter productive.
The statement which was signed by its Vice President and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, explained that such incident can happen to any airline.
“While we thank God Almighty for His protection of all on board that aircraft, we, in AON, decry the penchant for sensational reporting anytime such incident occurs. Tyre bursts occur now and then in the industry and has nothing to do with the airline’s safety standards.
“AON states that Max Air is one of the safest airlines in the world and should not be ridiculed because of this incident. Tyre burst can happen to any airline in the world. We plead with the flying public to be mindful of the consequences of sensationalising such occurrences in aviation, as it may be used by outsiders to affect the county’s rating.
“All Nigerian airlines are under very strict oversight by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), hence no room for unsafe practices by any Nigerian airline. This tyre burst incident does not and, will never, detract from Max Air’s well-known safety standards”, the statement read in part.
