Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers narrowly avoided disaster when a Max Air plane’s engine caught fire shortly after takeoff from Maiduguri International Airport on Wednesday evening.
The incident, reportedly caused by a bird strike, occurred just 10 minutes into the flight bound for Abuja.
Security expert Zagazola Makama shared on X that the pilot quickly executed an emergency landing, averting a major tragedy.
Passengers were shaken by the experience, with many opting to cancel their trips and head home.
Max Air promptly dispatched another aircraft from Kano to transport willing passengers, including the Deputy Governor, safely to Abuja.
