Pat Stevens & NAN/
The management of Max Air has blamed yesterday’s incident involving its aircraft carrying over 500 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Minna International Airport on epileptic instrument landing system at the airport which often gives unreliable signals.
Capt. Ibrahim Dili, Director of Flight Operations of the airline, while reacting to the report of the incident, also said there was heavy torrential rain with unstable wind when the plane was landing at the airport.
Dili stated: “The instrument landing system at the airport was epileptic with unreliable signals.
“Our pilots executed an approach, using their wealth of experience, knowledge of the terrain and environment to a safe landing and stop on the runway during which one of engines slightly brushed the runway.”
The aircraft had reportedly made a hard side landing at the airport in the early hours of yesterday causing substantial damage to one of its engines.
According to reports, the Boeing 747- 400 operated by Max Air with 560 passengers and 19 crew on board brushed the surface of the runway with one of its engines during the incident
There were however no reports of death or injuries to any of the passengers or crew members.
The slight brush of the engine, Dili said, was due to the complex landing maneuvers occasioned by the strong downdraft, stressing that the aircraft did not crash or skid off.
According to him, the aircraft taxied safely to the airport terminal and passengers disembarked without any problem, adding that all required reports of the “minor incident” had been filed.
Dili said officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) inspected the aircraft and the runway and were satisfied with the outcome of their inspection.
In its own reaction, the AIB said in a press statement it had been informed of the incident by the airline.
The statement reads: “The Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria has been notified on 7th September, 2019 by Max Air Limited if a serious incident involving the Boeing 737-400 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N- DBK which occurred during final approach at runway 23/Minna International Airport, Minna, Niger State.
“The aircraft took off from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with 560 passengers and 19 crew member on board.
“From the information provided the aircraft on landing screeped the runway while its number 1 engine brushed the surface of the runway and no injury reported.
“Our team of safety investigators has commenced investigations.”
A check on the command and control centre of NAHCON showed that the commission has so far conducted 80 flights with 38,807 pilgrims transported back to Nigeria as at September 7.
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