A MAX Air aircraft travelling from Abuja to Katsina was forced to make an emergency return to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after developing what the airline described as an “engine anomaly” shortly after takeoff.
News Point Nigeria reports that the incident, which occurred on Monday, triggered panic among passengers onboard the flight as the aircraft reportedly lost altitude mid-air before pilots regained control and safely returned to Abuja.
Videos shared on X showed passengers gathered on the tarmac after the aircraft landed safely, with many awaiting further instructions from the airline.
One of the passengers, who narrated the experience in a video, described the incident as frightening, saying the technical problem occurred about 10 minutes after departure.
“We are currently at the airport following a distressing incident involving a Max Air flight from Abuja to Katsina,” the passenger said.
“Approximately 10 minutes into the flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden technical failure, causing it to lose altitude rapidly as if it were falling.
“The pilots managed to regain control and immediately performed an emergency return to Abuja for our safety. We have since landed safely, but we are currently stranded on the tarmac.”
The passenger disclosed that several prominent individuals were onboard the flight, including Abba, son of Dahiru Mangal, the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to the Katsina State Governor, the governor’s media aide, and other government officials.
“At this moment, our fate remains uncertain. We are waiting for a decision from Max Air officials on whether they will repair the aircraft for us to re-board or provide an alternative plane,” she added.
“We are still standing outside and feel completely stranded. Please keep us in your prayers as we wait for a resolution.”
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday, Max Air confirmed that the affected flight was VM1620 operating the Abuja-Katsina route.
The airline explained that approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, the crew of aircraft 5N-DAB, a Boeing 737-300, detected an indication of an engine anomaly.
According to the airline, the pilots acted in line with aviation safety procedures by immediately returning the aircraft to Abuja.
“In keeping with our standard operating procedures and the highest principles of aviation safety, the Crew decided to return the aircraft to Abuja immediately. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked without incident,” the statement read.
Max Air further stated that it swiftly deployed another aircraft, identified as 5N-DMK, from Kano to Abuja to continue operations on the Abuja-Katsina route and other scheduled services.
The airline added that its engineering and technical teams had already commenced a comprehensive assessment of the aircraft in compliance with regulatory requirements.
“We remain in close contact with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and will cooperate fully with any review process,” the airline said.
The latest incident comes months after another Max Air aircraft was involved in a crash-landing at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in January 2025.
A video obtained by News Point Nigeria at the time showed that the aircraft, which arrived from Lagos, lost one of its landing gear tyres during landing, resulting in the incident.