... Airport shut down
From Joseph Asegba, Yola.
A Yola International Airport has been sealed up following the disabled blockage of the runway by Max Airline for a double tyre burst.
According to reports, the airline, Max Air’s flight NGL 1649, Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ABD with119 passengers on board and 6 crew members cleared to take off from Yola airport en-route Abuja as rear tyres burst at about 7:15 pm.
One among the passengers who didn’t want his name media confirmed that as the airline was speeding for take-off, a loud sound suspected to be a tyre burst with tick smoke disabled the aircraft from moving.
He further said the fortunate was that all the 119 passengers were evacuated to safety immediately as none were injured during the incident.
The Airline’s Director of public and Customer protection, Bimbo Oladeji had earlier told the media that the mere accident was averted in the faulty aircraft conveying 119 passengers and six crew members.
He further noted that already The go – team led by the Director NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr. has already visited the scene in Yola and said, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB has commenced an investigation probe into the incident of tyre burst on Max Airplane with 119 passengers and six crew members from Yola, Adamawa state to Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Meanwhile, the Assistant General Manager, Cooperate Communications, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. Mrs Ijoma Nwosu Igbo while Confirming the incident said the Max air plane will soon be put off when the probe panel is finished.
Nwosu added that the probe panel led by DG of NSIB Capt. Alex Bafeh Jnr who is already in Yola, after their probe, the Max air team of engineers will replace the burst tyres and remove the plane from the runway for free off and landing aeroplanes.