Burst tires of the aircraft. Photo:NAMA
Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has decried the sensational reporting of the incident involving Max Air flight that had emergency landing and suffered burst tyre at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and said such exaggerated report creates unnecessary fears in the minds of the flying public.
In a statement released by the Operators and signed by its Vice President and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, the Association said that such incident could happen to any airline.
“Today, an aircraft belonging to Max Air which took off from Yola Airport had a tyre burst on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. No passenger or crew was hurt in the incident as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
“While we thank God Almighty for His protection of all on board that aircraft, we, in AON, decry the penchant for sensational reporting anytime such incident occurs. Tyre bursts occur now and then in the industry and has nothing to do with the airline’s safety standards. Such reports only tend to create unnecessary fears in the minds of the unsuspecting flying public and, as such, counterproductive,” the statement read.
The body also said that Max Air is a safe with good safety record and therefore should not be ridiculed because of this incident.
The AON stated that all Nigerian airlines are under very strict oversight by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), hence no room for unsafe practices by any airline.
Part of Max air aircraft burst into flames
In the afternoon hours of Sunday, there was an aircraft accident involving Boeing 737 with Registration number 5N-MBD operated by Maxair at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport, Abuja.
According to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA the aircraft which emanated from Yola and enroute Abuja, developing a faulty engine and then bursting its left landing gears.
The 144 Passengers and 6 crew members were evacuated safely as authorities were on site to fix the tires and get the runway back in operation.
Emergency response teams were also at the site.
Reporting by Adaku Eneh and Nosa Aituamen; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu