No fewer than 550 pilgrims from Niger State who performed this year’s hajj
in Saudi Arabia on Saturday escaped death at the Minna International Airport as
the Max Airline plane conveying them back to Nigeria skidded off the runway.
An authoritative source at the airport who pleaded anonymity said the
incident occurred at about 5.00am on Saturday.
He said that the aircraft, a Boeing 744 with registration number 5N/DBK,
developed a technical fault which resulted in its forced landing.
The source said that the development caused damage to one of the four
engines of the aircraft.
He said part of the tarmac and facilities at the airport were also damaged
by the aircraft as a result of the accident.
The source told newsmen that the passengers were rushed out of the plane
after it halted off the runway.
The officials of the Accident Investigation Bureau from Lagos have
inspected the partly damaged aircraft, after which they went into a closed-door
meeting.
Hajiya Hassana Isah, Public Relations Officer of the state Pilgrims Welfare
Board, confirmed the incident to journalists but did not give details.
Isah assured that the development would not affect the return of the over
2, 000 pilgrims from the state still in Saudi Arabia.
