Hajj: Saudi-bound Jigawa pilgrims plane makes emergency landing
A Max Air aircraft conveying the first batch of 2023 Hajj pilgrims from Jigawa State made a sudden air-return landing at Aminu Kano International Airport, following a thunder strike on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Max Air in Kano, Bello Ramadan, while confirming the incident last night, disclosed that the incident happened after a thunder lighting which affected the left windscreen of a co-pilot.
The Boeing 747 plane reportedly left Jigawa at exactly 4:45 pm before it made the air return at the Aminu Kano International Airport,
The intending pilgrims numbering about 559 were the first batch of the 1,625 intending pilgrims airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj. They departed the Dutse International Airport at exactly 4:45p.m.
Meanwhile, the journey was truncated when it was struck by lightning that affected the movement of the aircraft
According to Ramadan, “The problem is not as much as the passengers are reporting, some of them are panicking and reporting what did not happen, the airplane’s engine and tires are in perfect condition.
“We have provided an alternative plane to continue the journey, the plane is about fueling, and the passengers are okay, even though some of them are panicking but there is no cause for alarm.
“It was a thunder strike that affected the left side screen, thank God it was mere scratch and not broken and the pilot decided to return. Very soon they will continue with the journey.”
Earlier, while addressing reporters before the plane’s take-off in the Dutse airport, the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa pilgrim board, Umar Labbo, said the first batch of pilgrims was drawn from 16 out of 27 local government areas of the state.
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