A major tragedy was Sunday averted when a Max Air aircraft conveying passengers from Adamawa state crash-landed, upon getting to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, causing panic.
The aircraft reportedly crash-landed after the tyre burst into flames.
Blueprint learnt that the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service operators at the airport were swiftly deployed to the scene to put off the fire.
President Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Mike Ogirima, who gave an account of the incident, was quoted as saying the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
However, the aircraft crash-landed in Abuja with emergency officials already on the ground to put off the fire before the passengers disembarked right at the runway.
Ogirima said, “We thank God. We are still on the runway and the pilot has reassured us. He has called for the stairs and we are now disembarking from the runway to be evacuated to the airport building at the arrival hall.
“We bless God because we had witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into a prayer session.
“I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God,” he added.
