On May 7, 2023, a Max Air Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 150 passengers and six crew experienced difficulties landing and lost its tires but the picture has become clearer after a report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed that a passenger saw the aircraft’s wheel fall off mid-air.
Aside the passenger, an Air Force personnel also notified Yola Airport, where the flight took off, that it noticed a falling object appearing like a tyre.
These revelations were contained in the Interim Report by NSIB seen by NewsNGR.
The incident involved a Max Air flight NGL1649 with registration 5N-MBD, which departed Yola for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The NSIB in its interim report categorized the incident as a ‘serious incident’.
Explaining the preliminary findings, NSIB said the pilot carried out a post flight inspection of the aircraft and reported nothing was abnormal.
But the findings said, “At 14:08hrs, Nigerian Air Force personnel from the Air Force Hangar close to runway 35, reported to Yola Control Tower that an object appearing like a tyre fell off from the departing NGL1649.
“The DATCO promptly informed the Pilot of NGL1649 as well as Kano Area Control (ACC) and Abuja Tower.
“According to cabin crew account, the flight purser (L1) and another cabin crew (L2)
informed the Pilot that a passenger at seat row 24 informed them about seeing a wheel
fall off from the airplane.
According to the report, the pilot replied that, ”Yola tower said they would carry out runway inspection and report findings”.
Also, the pilot reported that instruments and landing gear indications were normal.
It said at 14:51h, Yola ATC informed Abuja Tower about the earlier report and to inform
the NGL1649 that nothing was found on the ground.
On landing, the report revealed that “At 14:53 h, Tower cleared NGL1649 to land with “Surface-wind calm runway 22.
“According to the Pilot, the landing was normal, but after the airplane started decelerating
he noticed the wing port side was dropping lower than normal, he applied full aileron
control to keep the wing from dropping until the lift decayed. Thrust reverser and minimal
braking was used to stop the aircraft on the runway.
“At 14:57 h, Abuja ATC informed NGL1649 ‘be advised, it appears you have smoke around
your aircraft. We have called fire watch room.”
NSIB disclosed that the final draft report is ongoing.
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