Borno Dep Gov, Others Escape Plane Crash

Umar Kadafur, the deputy governor of Borno State, and more than 100 passengers were spared a terrible fate when a Max Air plane’s engine failed just after it took off from Maiduguri International Airport.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when the deputy governor and others boarded the plane to Abuja.

While the authority has yet to comment on the actual cause of the engine failure, PUNCH Online learned that the pilot and crew managed to execute an emergency landing back at Maiduguri Airport.

A source who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to speak confirmed that the management of Max Air put in an immediate effort to see that the deputy governor arrived in Abuja through another aircraft.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that many of the intending travellers dumped their travel plans and returned home while the deputy governor arrived in Abuja.

The faulty aircraft remains grounded at Maiduguri International Airport, undergoing extensive repairs while investigations into the incident are currently underway.

As of the time of filling out this report, Max Air has yet to comment on the development.

When contacted, the manager of Max Air in Maiduguri, Mr. Musa Bawuro, said he was aware of the incident but could not comment until he got details of what actually transpired.

“Please give me time to find out from the captain,” he said

Meanwhile, when our correspondent contacted the deputy governor’s media aide, Bulama Talba, to speak about the incident, he declined the call.