….NSIB commences investigations
…Airport shut, reopened
From Uche Usim, Abuja
A major air disaster was averted on Sunday as the tyres of a Max Air aircraft, carrying passengers from Yola, Adamawa State, burst into flames on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
While no lives were lost, the scary development caused panic among the passengers onboard who went into frenzied prayers.
The troubled jetliner was received in Abuja by officials of the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service and other emergency responders who swiftly put out the flames.
The airport was temporarily shut to flight operations to make room for the seamless evacuation of the aircraft from the tarmac.
Aviation Minister, Mr Hadi Sirika, in a tweet confirmed the removal of the airplane involved in the incident.
He said: “Following the temporary closure of Abuja Airport due to emergency landing by Max Air, I am happy to announce that the aircraft has been towed clear and we will open within an hour. Thanks for your patience & understanding. Well done our fire fighting team who quenched the fire & operations staff who towed the aircraft away”.
Already, officials of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have commenced full investigations into immediate and remote cause(s) of the incident.
Spokesman of NSIB, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, who confirmed the development to Daily Sun in a telephone conversation, assured that the reasons behind the incident will be unearthed so lessons could be learnt to forestall a reoccurrence.
He said: “Our officials are already on ground and have taken up the matter. The reasons for the incident will be determined and communicated to appropriate quarters accordingly. Unfortunately, I can’t give you all the details at this time”, he said.
Meanwhile, the former President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Mike Ogirima, who gave an account of the incident reportedly said that the incident occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
Ogirima said, “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”.