On Sunday evening, a Max Air flight, identified as NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, was cleared for takeoff from Yola Airport. The aircraft, carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, experienced a serious issue when the rear gear tyres burst during the takeoff roll. Initially, two of the tyres exploded, and as the aircraft attempted to taxi off the runway, the remaining tyres also blew out, causing the plane to become immobilized.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. According to a statement from Bimbo Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the incident did not result in any casualties. A team led by NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. will arrive at the scene the following morning to investigate further.
In a related development, the NSIB report from 2023 highlighted concerns about the airline’s handling of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data. It was noted that the airline had been accused of overwriting CVR information related to a serious incident on May 7, 2023, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The airline was also criticized for ignoring the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s directive on CVR overwriting.
Additionally, it was reported that another Max Air aircraft, NGL1648, had a brief stop in Yola before returning to Abuja. After takeoff, the landing gear was kept extended for three minutes to cool off due to the high temperatures on the ground at Yola Airport. At 2:08 p.m., Nigerian Air Force personnel from a nearby hangar reported to Yola Control Tower that an object resembling a tyre had fallen from the departing flight NGL1649.
