Nigeria’s Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) have mobilised to put out a fire at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday following the crash-landing of a Max Air aircraft.
With 143 passengers and one infant onboard, the Max Air plane tyre reportedly burst into flames on arrival from Yola, Adamawa State.
Reacting to the incident, an eye witness, Dr. Mike Ogirima who was former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), explained that the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
The aircraft however, crash-landed in Abuja with emergency officials were on standby to put out the fire before the passengers were disembarked right at the runway.
Ogirima said, “We thank God. We are still on the runway and 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 prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.”
The runway was temporarily shut while passengers were safely disembarked from the plane. It will be reopened after safe evacuation of the aircraft.
In Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria, Max Air flight which was supposed to takeoff to Abuja at 16:35 hours was been delayed for another hour.
An official of the airline also confirmed the incident, adding that the appropriate authorities will be informed in order to carry out full investigation into the incident.