Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers narrowly avoided disaster when a Max Air aircraft experienced an engine fire shortly after departing from Maiduguri International Airport.
Security expert Zagazola Makama revealed on X that the incident happened around 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The aircraft, en route to Abuja, suffered engine failure due to a bird strike about 10 minutes into the flight.
The pilot and crew managed to perform an emergency landing back at Maiduguri Airport, averting a potential catastrophe.
Following the emergency landing, many passengers were panicking, opting to retrieve their luggage and return home rather than board another flight.
However, Max Air management swiftly arranged for another aircraft from Kano to transport the willing passengers, including the Deputy Governor, safely to Abuja.