On Jan 28th 2025, a Max Air Boeing 737-400 experienced a dramatic landing accident in northern Nigeria that ended with a tyre burst, a collapsed nose gear, and the temporary grounding of the airline.
The aircraft, registered 5N-MBD, was operating flight VM-1605 from Lagos to Kano with 53 passengers and 6 crew on board. It touched down on Kano’s runway 06 at 22:48 local time when, during the landing roll, one of the main tyres burst. As the aircraft slowed through about 60 knots, a loud bang was heard, the jet veered sharply to the left, and moments later the nose landing gear collapsed. The flight crew managed to regain directional control and bring the aircraft to a stop on the runway.
Passengers later reported smoke entering the cabin during the rollout, prompting an evacuation using emergency slides. Airport fire crews responded immediately, spraying the aircraft with water to contain any potential flames. All 59 occupants evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.
Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the incident and announced that investigators from the Safety Investigation Bureau were dispatched to the site. In the aftermath, the airline was suspended for three months starting Jan 31st 2025, pending a comprehensive safety review.
A year later, on Jan 28th 2026, Nigeria’s National Safety Investigation Bureau released an interim statement revealing important background details. According to the report, the aircraft had been scheduled to operate six sectors that day. Earlier inspections had identified nose wheel tyres worn to their operational limits, but replacement equipment was not immediately available. Engineers decided the aircraft could continue flying one additional sector while awaiting the necessary tools. The nose wheel tyres were eventually replaced later in the day in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, and no abnormalities were noted during subsequent checks in Lagos before the final flight to Kano.
The interim report states that the approach and landing into Kano initially appeared normal, with the aircraft cleared for an ILS approach to runway 06 under calm wind conditions. After touchdown, the aircraft landed slightly right of the centreline when a series of loud mechanical noises were heard, followed by the crew declaring a mayday and requesting immediate assistance.
Investigators are now awaiting the results of detailed inspections of the nose landing gear assembly and the tyres by Boeing and Dunlop. The final report is still being compiled, but the incident has already become a significant case study in maintenance decision-making, operational pressure, and the narrow margins that can separate a routine landing from a serious runway accident.
