Flight operations at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport faced disruption after a Max Air aircraft experienced a tyre burst while landing on Tuesday night.
The incident, which occurred at 10:57 p.m., prompted authorities to temporarily close the runway for inspection and clearance.
Despite the unexpected occurrence, all 53 passengers, along with the flight crew, were safely evacuated without any reported injuries.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the aircraft, identified as Flight VM1605 with registration number 5N-MBD, was moved to Taxiway B following the incident.
In a statement released on their official X account on Wednesday morning, Max Air acknowledged the event and apologized for any inconvenience caused.
“As a result, the Kano runway will remain temporarily closed for inspection and clearance, which may lead to delays in flight operations today, Wednesday, 29/01/2024.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience as we await further updates on the runway reopening,” the airline stated.
The airline reassured the public that the situation was managed professionally, with the crew ensuring a safe evacuation.
“Our crew handled the situation professionally, ensuring the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew members. There were no injuries, and the aircraft has since been removed from the runway as of 04:28,” Max Air noted.
The company also commended its engineering team for their swift response and promised to provide updates on flight schedules as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the NCAA emphasized that a thorough inspection of the runway must be completed before reopening.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has taken over the investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
While official details remain limited, sources suggest the tyre burst may have involved the aircraft’s nose landing gear. Efforts to obtain further comments from airline and aviation safety officials were not immediately successful.
