During landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, a MaxAir airplane flying from Yola reportedly had a harrowing incident where the tire caught fire.

The flight had taken off from Adamawa state capital at 2:05 pm and was expected to reach its destination at the Centre of Unity by 3:00 pm on Sunday, prior to the occurrence. Luckily, all 143 passengers, six crew members, and an infant on board were successfully evacuated without any harm.

The cause of the tire catching fire is currently unknown, but investigations are currently underway.

The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) personnel at the airport responded quickly to extinguish the fire. As a result, the runway was closed temporarily while the plane was towed. Meanwhile, the passengers are relieved to have survived the incident and express gratitude for the crew's and emergency responders' expertise.

A few of the passengers shared their accounts of the crash-landing.

According to Dr. Mike Ogirima, a former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), the tire became dislodged immediately after takeoff from Yola Airport. Nevertheless, emergency personnel were already present at the Abuja airport to extinguish the flames when the airplane made a crash landing. Passengers were then promptly disembarked on the runway.

As per Ogirima, "We express our gratitude to God. We are currently on the runway, and the pilot has given us reassurance. He has requested the stairs, and we are disembarking on the runway to be evacuated to the arrival hall in the airport building. We are thankful to God because we noticed the tire becoming dislodged right from the takeoff at Yola Airport, and we immediately began a prayer session. As a medical practitioner, I refrained from announcing it to avoid causing any panic, but we are grateful to God."

An anonymous passenger shared, "We experienced a sudden jolt, and the aircraft started shaking. We could hear a loud noise, and we knew something was amiss. It was a frightening experience for us.

"Nevertheless, the crew demonstrated remarkable skill in ensuring our safety. They ensured that we were wearing our seatbelts and helped us evacuate the plane promptly when it was safe to do so. We are appreciative of their quick thinking, as well as the bravery of the emergency responders. We owe our lives to God," she concluded.

The airline's management released a statement assuring that they would keep the public informed as more information becomes available regarding the incident.

The statement stated, "On May 7th, 2023, a Max Air flight carrying 143 passengers and one infant departed from Yola at approximately 2:05 pm and was scheduled to arrive in Abuja at 3:00 pm.

"However, during the landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the aircraft experienced two tire bursts. Nevertheless, the emergency response team at the airport promptly intervened.

"We are delighted to report that all the passengers and crew aboard the airplane are safe and in good condition. The airline has taken all necessary measures to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and well taken care of at this time. They have been transported to the arrival terminal with their luggage and personal belongings.

"The tires of the aircraft are being replaced, and the airplane will be towed to the ramp for further investigation before being cleared for future flights.

Max Air is dedicated to ensuring the safety and dependability of air travel for all of its passengers. We are grateful to all the passengers for their patience and comprehension in light of the incident.

The airline also expresses its gratitude to the airport authorities, emergency services, and all other pertinent organizations for their quick and professional response in ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew members onboard."