A tragedy was averted on Sunday afternoon as the rear tyre of a Yola/Abuja bound Max air plane burst.
The aircraft Boeing 734 seven series reportedly carrying no fewer than one hundred and fifty passengers lost one of the rear tyres while taking off from Yola.
A staff of the Yola international airport on condition of anonymity told this medium that the pilot was notified of the mechanic’s fault but said he was not alerted in the plane’s cockpit.
Our sources however said the afternoon flight on routine commercial services landed safely with the intervention of Abuja motor roaming machines.
“No casualties, it was as a result of the absence of one of the rear tires. You know each rear tires are two, and one of the right tires get removed while taking off from Yola, landing became a problem, it was heavy because of the passengers on board who were up to one hundred and fifty.
“The pressure was much and the plane couldn’t get balance until an intervention by ground staffs.
“No casualties. Thanks to God the plane landed safely,” he said.
Also according to a report by Daily Trust, the aircraft had arrived from Yola, Adamawa State when the incident happened.
The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) operatives at the airport were swiftly mobilised to put off the fire.
Former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, who gave an account of the incident, said the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.
However, the aircraft crash-landed in Abuja with emergency officials already on ground to put off the fire before the passengers were disembarked right at the runway.
Ogirima said, “We thank God. We are still on the runway and 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 have witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.”
The passengers were safely disembarked from the runway while the runway has been temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.
An official of the airline who confirmed the incident said the passengers safely disembarked.
He expressed gratitude to God for the safety of all the passengers and crew members.
