‘We Thought We Were Gone’: Passengers Recall Terror As Max Air Flight Develops Technical Fault Mid-air

Pat Stevens/

Passengers aboard a Max Air flight from Abuja to Katsina on Monday evening have recounted moments of fear and panic after the aircraft reportedly developed a technical fault shortly after take-off.

The development forced the pilot to make an emergency return to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Several passengers who shared their experiences on social media said they heard loud banging noises from the aircraft before it began shaking violently in mid-air.

One of the passengers, Obinna Chukueze, described the incident as a near-death experience, saying the aircraft encountered trouble less than 20 minutes after departure.

According to him, “We boarded a Max Air flight from Abuja to Katsina, and about less than 20 minutes into the journey, there was a loud bang and the aircraft suddenly dropped and began struggling to maintain balance.

“A few minutes later, there was another loud bang and I thought we were all gone. At that point, the entire cabin and passengers became tense and nervous.”

He said the pilot later informed passengers that the aircraft would return to Abuja for safety reasons.

“The pilot, in terse voice then announced that, for safety reasons, we would be returning to Abuja. He carefully manoeuvred the aircraft, flying low, until we successfully made an emergency landing in Abuja,” he added.

Chukueze thanked God for sparing the lives of those on board, saying he was still in shock after the incident.

Another passenger, Dr Zayyad Lamorde, also recounted the frightening moments aboard the flight.
“Innalillahi wa inna illaihirrajiun. I just had my first near death experience onboard a Max Air flight to Katsina after we heard a loud bang shortly after takeoff from Abuja.

“The feeling of being helpless in the uncertainty of living or dying is wild. Alhamdulillah back to Abuja,” he wrote.

Passengers said tension gripped the cabin as the aircraft struggled in the air before the pilot safely navigated it back to Abuja without casualties.

In a statement issued after the incident, the airline said Flight VM1620, operated with aircraft registration 5N-DAB, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday before the crew observed an indication suggesting an engine malfunction about 15 minutes into the journey.

The airline said the flight crew immediately activated standard safety procedures and decided to return to Abuja as a precautionary measure.

Max Air stated that the aircraft landed safely and all passengers disembarked without injury.

The airline also commended the professionalism of its crew and apologised to passengers for the disruption and distress caused by the incident.

The development has again drawn attention to safety concerns within Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly involving Max Air, which has faced multiple operational incidents in recent years.

In 2025, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority approved the resumption of Max Air’s domestic operations after the airline voluntarily suspended flights for 90 days following a series of safety-related incidents.

The regulator said the suspension period allowed for extensive safety and economic audits of the airline.

Max Air had also been involved in previous incidents, including a 2023 landing accident in Abuja involving one of its Boeing 737 aircraft, after the plane lost tyres while landing. All passengers survived the incident.