The runway at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport has been temporarily closed for inspection and clearance after a Max Air aircraft suffered a tyre burst while landing on Tuesday night.
The incident led to flight disruptions though all 53 passengers and crew aboard were safely evacuated without injuries.
Max Air confirmed the incident on its X account Wednesday morning, stating, “As a result, the Kano runway will remain temporarily closed for inspection and clearance, which may lead to delays in flight operations today, Wednesday, 29/01/2024. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience as we await further updates on the runway reopening.”
The airline assured the public that the situation was handled professionally, emphasising that the crew ensured the safe evacuation of all onboard. The aircraft was successfully removed from the runway by 4:28 a.m.
Max Air commended its engineering team for their swift response and promised to provide updates on flight schedules as soon as possible.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident on its official X account, identifying the affected flight as VM1605 with registration number 5N-MBD.
According to the NCAA, “The pilot, cabin crew, and all 53 passengers were safely disembarked with no injuries recorded. The aircraft has been removed from the runway to Taxiway B.”
The agency further stated that a thorough runway inspection would be conducted before reopening, while the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has taken charge of the investigation.
Sources indicated that the incident, which occurred at 10:57 p.m. on Tuesday, may have involved the aircraft’s nose landing gear tyre.
