Borno Dep Gov, Over 100 Passengers Survive Max Air Engine Fire After Takeoff

Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers narrowly avoided disaster when a Max Air flight experienced an engine fire shortly after taking off from Maiduguri International Airport.

The incident was revealed by security expert Zagazola Makama in a statement shared on X.

According to Zagazola, incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, as the aircraft was heading to Abuja and suffered engine failure due to a bird strike approximately 10 minutes into the flight.

A Max Air staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident on Thursday morning.

The staff member explained: “Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft struck a bird mid-air, which caused one of the engines to catch fire. The pilot acted swiftly to ensure the safety of all passengers.”

Following the emergency landing, passengers were reportedly in a state of panic, with many opting to collect their luggage and return home rather than board another flight.

However, Max Air management promptly arranged for another aircraft from Kano to transport resilient passengers, including the Deputy Governor, safely to Abuja.

The ill-fated aircraft remains grounded at Maiduguri International Airport, undergoing extensive repairs. Investigations into the incident are currently underway.

The airport authorities have reassured passengers of their commitment to safety and thanked the crew for their professionalism in managing the situation.

This come three weeks after an Air Peace aircraft inbound to Lagos from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was halted due to suspected technical faults.

A statement signed by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, confirmed that the aircraft had been stopped before takeoff due to a bird strike.

Ejike, however, appealed for “the understanding of the passengers
impacted by this development, as well as those on other flights that may experience delays.”

“We have deployed a replacement aircraft for the affected flight to minimise disruption and ensure that passengers can continue their journeys promptly,” the statement concluded.