Sunday evening at Yola Airport in Adamawa, a Max Air aircraft faced a startling incident while preparing to take off. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 identified as flight NGL1649 with the registration 5N-ADB, was loaded with 119 passengers and six crew members. The evening seemed routine until a series of unexpected events unfolded, causing quite a commotion and raising concerns among all involved.
Bimbo Oladeji, the airline’s Director of Public and Consumer Protection, provided a detailed account of the harrowing experience. “It was a regular evening flight bound for Abuja,” she began, painting a picture of the calm before the storm. “Our Boeing 737 was given the green light for takeoff from Yola Airport. As it began to roll down the runway, everything seemed normal, but then a loud bang echoed through the air, catching everyone off guard.”
The source of this alarming noise was soon discovered to be the aircraft’s rear gear tyres. “At first, two of the rear tyres burst,” Oladeji explained, the tension in her voice evident. “The pilots attempted to navigate the aircraft safely off the runway, but as they did, the remaining two tyres also burst, leaving the plane completely immobilized. The aircraft was stuck on the runway, unable to move.”
Despite the dramatic nature of the incident, Oladeji had a reassuring message. “Miraculously, no one was injured,” she confirmed, bringing a sense of relief to the troubling narrative. “All 119 passengers and six crew members were unharmed, which is something we are incredibly grateful for.”
However, the story didn’t end there. The next steps involved a thorough investigation to understand what had gone wrong and to ensure such an incident wouldn’t happen again. “A specialized team, led by NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr., is set to arrive at the scene early tomorrow morning,” Oladeji announced. “Their mission is to conduct a detailed investigation to uncover the cause of this unfortunate event and to prevent future occurrences.”
As the night drew to a close, passengers and crew members were undoubtedly shaken but thankful to be safe. The Yola Airport incident, while alarming, ended without injuries, and efforts were swiftly underway to ensure the skies remained safe for future travels. The investigation promised to shed light on the incident, bringing answers and hopefully preventing such frightening episodes in the future.
