119 passengers on board a Max Air aircraft headed for Abuja suffer a tire burst upon takeoff.
119 passengers and 6 crew members were on Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, when the tires unexpectedly burst during the takeoff roll at Yola Airport on Sunday night.
According to a statement made by Bimbo Oladeji, director of public affairs and consumer protection for the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB),
the event occurred after the aircraft was cleared to take off from Yola Airport in Adamawa State and was traveling to Abuja.
“A loud bang was heard during the takeoff roll, identified as the rear gear tyres bursting,” the statement reads.
At first, two of the tires blew. The aircraft was totally incapacitated as the other two tyres exploded during the attempt to taxi off the runway.
Thankfully, there were no reported injuries. Today, a go-team headed by Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, will investigate the incident site, according to Oladeji.
