A Kano-Abuja Max Airplane on Tuesday developed engine failure10 minutes after takeoff from the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), causing fear among passengers.
The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, was among the many passengers onboard the faulty plane. The Max Air aircraft, marked VM1645, was scheduled to take off by 1.30 pm. It however, took off at 2:00 pm, 30 minutes behind departure time, it was learnt.
10 minutes after take-off, the aircraft, filled with passengers to the brim, reportedly began to “swerve around the air” until it made a detour for an emergency landing. We gathered the incident was caused by an “engine failure.”
Max Air had not spoken on the incident yet as at press time. A palace source,who was also onboard the plane, confirmed the incident to newsmen, saying “we smelt death.” One of the passengers, Dr Samaila Suleiman, said it was “a near-death incident,” as he accused the airline of negligence.
“I heard a strange sound during the take-off, but I waved it. I have been flying by aircraft many times, but I have never heard such a sound during take-off. The sound was strange, but I dismissed any strange feeling of insecurity.
No radio announcement was even made until we saw ourselves back at the airport where we took off. It was a near-death experience. I and many other passengers were traumatised. Many of us canceled the trip and returned home.”
However, Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and some of the other passengers were still flown to Abuja in the same Max Airplane after it was fixed.
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