An Abuja-bound Max Air flight narrowly averted disaster on Wednesday when one of its engines caught fire mid-air, forcing an emergency landing at Maiduguri airport, Borno State.
The incident, which occurred just 10 minutes after the flight’s departure, had over 70 passengers on board, including Borno State Deputy Governor, Usman Kadafur. Despite the harrowing experience, all passengers and crew members were unharmed.
Reports suggest the engine fire was triggered by a bird strike during ascent, which caused the engine to malfunction.
In a swift response, the pilot followed standard safety protocols by shutting down the affected engine and diverting the plane back to Maiduguri airport.
In a statement on Thursday, Max Air confirmed the incident and assured passengers of their commitment to safety.
“The captain noticed irregular engine parameters during ascent, shut down the affected engine, and initiated an air return to Maiduguri. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew were unharmed,” the airline stated.
The company also revealed that a rescue aircraft was promptly dispatched to Maiduguri to transport the stranded passengers to their destinations with minimal delay.
Max Air expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the incident.
“We are working closely with aviation authorities to investigate the cause of the engine abnormality. Max Air remains committed to upholding the highest safety and operational standards to maintain the trust of our valued passengers,” the statement added.
The incident marks another challenge for Nigeria’s aviation sector, with bird strikes posing recurring risks. In November, an Air Peace flight was disrupted by a similar incident shortly before takeoff in Abuja.
In July, Max Air also faced scrutiny when one of its planes suffered a four-tyre burst before takeoff.
Aviation experts continue to stress the need for enhanced measures to mitigate bird strike risks around airports and maintain aircraft safety standards.
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