Max Air’s flight NGL1649, carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, was grounded at Yola Airport, north of Nigeria on Sunday evening after all four rear gear tires burst during takeoff. The incident occurred as the Boeing 737, registered as 5N-ADB, was preparing to depart for Abuja, Nigeria.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the event in a statement released to PUNCH Online by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Bimbo Oladeji, at 11:22 pm on Sunday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew.
“During the takeoff roll, a loud bang was heard, identified as the bursting of the rear gear tires. Initially, two tires burst. While attempting to taxi off the runway, the remaining two tires also burst, rendering the aircraft completely disabled,” Oladeji stated.
NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. has dispatched a go-team to Yola to investigate the incident thoroughly. The team is expected to arrive on Monday morning.
This incident follows a similar event in May 2023 when the NSIB criticized Max Air for overwriting the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) after an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The airline was accused of feigning ignorance of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s All Operators Letter (NCAA/FSG/AOL/19/03), which mandates the preservation of CVR information.
Max Air is expected to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the tire bursts and implement necessary safety measures.
Credit: punchng.com
