The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers narrowly escaped tragedy when a Max Air flight experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Maiduguri International Airport.
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Wednesday when the aircraft, en route to Abuja, reportedly struck a bird mid-flight, causing one of its engines to catch fire. Amid the ensuing chaos, the pilot and crew successfully executed an emergency landing back at Maiduguri Airport.
A Max Air staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident on Thursday morning. “Soon after takeoff, the Max Aircraft hit a bird in the sky, which led to one of the engines catching fire,” he explained.
Following the emergency landing, another aircraft was promptly dispatched from Kano to transport willing passengers, including the Deputy Governor, safely to Abuja.
Many passengers, however, chose to disembark and return home with their luggage, despite assurances from airport authorities that the replacement aircraft was en route to complete the journey.
The affected Max Air plane remains grounded at Maiduguri Airport, undergoing extensive repairs, while investigations into the incident continue.
