AIB begins investigation into Max Air serious incident at Minna airport
The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB Nigeria team of safety investigators have commenced investigations into the Max Air serious incident at the Minna airport on Saturday, September 7.
A statement by the investigation agency said it was notified on the 7th September, 2019 by Max Air Limited of a serious incident involving their Boeing 747-400 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-DBK which occurred during the final approach on Runway 23 at Minna Airport, Niger State.
The aircraft took off from King Abdul Aziz international Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with 560 passengers and 19 crew members on board.
The AIB noted that from the information provided , the aircraft on landing scraped the runway while the No.1 engine brushed the runway surface and no injury was reported.
“Our team of safety investigators has commenced investigations.
“As the investigating Agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your help. We want the Public to know that we would be amendable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence or information any members of the public may have of the serious incident; that can assist us with this investigation,” the Agency said in their statement .
The AIB enjoined the Press and the Public to respect the privacy of the people involved and not to pre-empt the cause of the serious incident.
Meanwhile, the management of Max Air in their account explained that their pilots executed an approach using their wealth of experience and knowledge of the terrain and environment to do a safe landing and stopped on the runway, during which one of the aircraft engines slightly brushed the runway due to complex landing manoeuvres occasioned by the strong downdraft, adding that the aircraft did not crash or skid off the runway.
The airline in their statement signed by its director of flight operations, captain Ibrahim G. Dilli noted that at the time of arrival, there was heavy torrential rain with unstable winds while the instrument landing system at the Minna airport was epileptic with unreliable signals.
The airline stated in the statement that the aircraft taxied safely to the airport terminal and passengers disembarked without any problems.
Capt Dilli explained further that all required reports of all minor incident have been filled while the officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and AIB have inspected both the aircraft and runway and are satisfied.
He reiterated the commitment of the airline in providing safe and efficient services within the confines of Nigerian and international aviation regulations.
This is coming as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON has complained of different versions of reports on Max Air flight NGL 2092 also referred to as Niger iii, which departed Jeddah airport at 2: 34 am on 7th September 2019, with 559 Niger pilgrims.
The Commission in a statement signed by Fatima Sanda Usara,
head, public affairs, NAHCON
said the flight was their 75th on return trip schedule.
“NAHCON is pleased to note that the plane landed in Mina safely with all pilgrims securely back to their destinations.
“As for the condition of the plane, the Commission has been assured by the relevant agencies that investigation is on-going to ascertain the nature of technical fault encountered.
Therefore while waiting for experts to confirm the real situation of the matter, NAHCON requests the general public to be cautious of misinformation. Already two flights by the same Max Air had taken off and landed in Nigeria the same day. So far, 38, 807 pilgrims have been transported back to Nigeria in 80 flights”, Usara concluded in the statement
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