A passenger who boarded the Max Air aircraft that crash-landed at the Abuja international airport on Sunday has revealed how staff of the airline ignored warnings after the tyre of the aircraft pulled out mid air.
The Street Journal had reported that the plane’s tyre burst during landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
In the passenger’s account, (whose prefers to remain anonymous) after they took off from Yola airport, one of the tyres pulled out mid-air.
According to him, an official working with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, reached out to one of the air hostesses, asking her to tell the pilot to alert the control tower prior to the aircraft’s landing in Abuja.
He claimed the air hostess ignored the complaint.
“On taking off, a tyre pulled out while it was up. A female passenger that works with FAAN now told the air hostess that they should tell the pilot that before we get to Abuja, they should inform the control tower so that firefighters would be on ground.
“Did you know that they did not do that? They ignored that,” he said.
“Immediately the aircraft landed in Abuja, the affected tyres burst and caught fire. The passengers remained inside for close to 20 minutes before the fire fighters came and they were eventually evacuated.
“And it was because they ignored the initial warnings that it took close to 20 minutes before the doors were eventually opened for us to disembark,” the passenger added.
Meanwhile, the airline in a statement shared on its Twitter page on Sunday stated that the aircraft experienced two tyre bursts on landing Abuja, and the emergency response team responded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
“On May 7th, 2023, a Max Air flight with 143 passengers and 01 infant on board, departing from Yola at around 14:05, was scheduled to arrive in Abuja at 15:00.
“We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft are safe and sound. The airline has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time.
“They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings. The aircraft tires are being replaced and the aircraft will taxi to the ramp for further investigations before being released for future flights,” the airline stated.
PUBLISHER - WOLE ARISEKOLA
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