Deputy governor, others escape death as plane makes emergency landing

A Max Air flight carrying the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Dr. Usman Kadafur, and over 70 passengers made an emergency landing at the Maiduguri International Airport on Wednesday  morning after one of its engines caught  fire shortly after take off.

It was reported that the Max Air caught fire approximately 10 minutes after taking off from Maiduguri International airport en route to Abuja.

Blueprint gathered that the aircraft hit a bird which caused damage to one of its engines resulting in inferno which compelled the pilot to swiftly respond to the emergency by shutting down the affected engine, before he safely maneuvered the aircraft back to Maiduguri.

However, reliable sources at the Maiduguri International airport said all  the passengers and crew  on board were unharmed, but crash landed due to the  emergency protocols as the staff effectively managed the aircraft safe landing.

It was also gathered that Max Air promptly dispatched a replacement aircraft to Maiduguri to convey the stranded passengers to Abuja as the replacement flight departed the airport at about 11:00 am on Thursday to ensure minimal disruption of potential airport passengers’ traveling plans.

Bird strikes are a common danger and  risk in aviation, especially during take off and landing periods when pilots find it difficult to land safely in most cases.

Airport authorities – NAMA and FAAN have urged airlines to conduct regular wildlife hazard assessments and implement bird control measures around airports to reduce such incidences.