By Marcus Ikechukwu
Max Air aircraft crash-landed after its tyre reportedly burst into flames at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday.
The aircraft took off from Yola, Adamawa state before the tyre burst.
It was gathered that the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS), which operates at the airport were quickly deployed to put out the fire.
According to the former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Mike Ogirima, the tyre burst happened immediately after the takeoff of the aircraft at Yola Airport.
Ogirima explained that the aircraft crash-landed in Abuja with emergency officials already on the ground to put off the fire before the passengers were disembarked right at the runway.
“We thank God. We are still on the runway and the 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 a prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.” Ogirima said.
It was learned that the passengers were later disembarked from the runway, while the runway has been temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.
It was gathered that the appropriate authorities would soon carry out an investigation into the incident.
