Plane crash lands as tyre bursts into flame in Abuja

A Max Air plane crash-landed on Sunday afternoon, creating panic at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after the tyre burst into flames.

The aircraft arrived from Yola, Adamawa State when the incident happened.

The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) operatives at the airport however quickly put off the fire.

Former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, said the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.

However, the aircraft crash-landed in Abuja with emergency officials already on ground to put off the fire before the passengers disembarked at the runway.

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.

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“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. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.”

The passengers were safely disembarked from the runway while the runway was temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.

An official of the airline said the passengers safely disembarked.

He expressed gratitude to God for the safety of all the passengers and crew members.

He said the airline would officially inform the appropriate authorities to carry out an investigation into the incident.