A Max Air aircraft en route from Abuja to Katsina on Monday made an emergency return to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after experiencing an “engine anomaly” mid-air.
According to a video shared on X, passengers were seen
waiting on the tarmac after the aircraft landed safely in Abuja.
Narrating the incident, a passenger said the aircraft
developed the fault about 10 minutes after takeoff, suddenly losing altitude.
“We are currently at the airport following a distressing
incident involving a Max Air flight from Abuja to Katsina,” the passenger
narrated in the video.
“Approximately 10 minutes into the flight, the aircraft
experienced a sudden technical failure, causing it to lose altitude rapidly as
if it were falling.
“The pilots managed to regain control and immediately
performed an emergency return to Abuja for our safety. We have since landed
safely, but we are currently stranded on the tarmac.”
The passenger said several high-profile individuals were
onboard the flight, including Abba, son of Dahiru Mangal; the senior special
assistant on digital media to the Katsina governor, the governor’s media
assistant, and other government officials.
“At this moment, our fate remains uncertain. We are waiting for a
decision from Max Air officials on whether they will repair the aircraft for us
to re-board or provide an alternative plane,” she said.
“We are still standing outside and feel completely stranded.
Please keep us in your prayers as we wait for a resolution.”
‘OUR TEAM HAS COMMENCED ASSESSMENT ON AIRCRAFT’
In a statement on Tuesday, Max Air said the incident
involved flight VM1620 operating the Abuja-Katsina route.
The airline said about 15 minutes after departure, the
flight crew of aircraft 5N-DAB, a Boeing 737-300, identified “an indication of
an engine anomaly”.
“In keeping with our standard operating procedures and the
highest principles of aviation safety, the Crew decided to return the aircraft
to Abuja immediately. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew
disembarked without incident,” the statement reads.
“Following the air return, Max Air immediately coordinated
the deployment of a second aircraft, 5N-DMK, from Kano to Abuja. The
Abuja–Katsina route and other routes were subsequently operated.”
The airline added that its engineering and technical teams had commenced a full assessment of the aircraft in line with regulatory requirements.
“We remain in close contact with the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) and will cooperate fully with any review process,” Max Air
said.
In January 2025, a Max Air aircraft crash-landed at the
Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano.
A video seen online showed that the aircraft, which
arrived from Lagos, lost its landing gear tyre during landing, leading to the
incident.
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