BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
What may have been a major air disaster was averted on Sunday evening as Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, suffered loss of all rear tyres as it positioned for take-off for its Yola-Abuja service.
According to a statement from the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the aircraft was carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, all eager to reach their destination.
She explained that after the flight was cleared for takeoff, the tranquility of the evening was shattered by a loud bang.
The alarming sound turned out to be the bursting of two of the rear gear tyres during the take-off roll.
Despite the crew’s efforts to manage the situation and taxi off the runway, the remaining two tires also gave way, leaving the aircraft completely immobilized on the tarmac.
Oladeji noted that in a fortunate turn of events, there were no injuries reported among the passengers or crew members, who were all safely evacuated.
The incident, however, necessitated immediate attention and investigation.
She said to address this, a specialized go-team led by NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. will arrive at the scene tomorrow morning.
Their mission will be to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the tire failures and ensure that all necessary safety protocols are reviewed and reinforced to prevent such occurrences in the future.
She stressed that Lately, aviation incidents have been on the rise, just as calls by stakeholders for safer skies and healthier operations have reached a crescendo.
