Hajj-bound Jigawa Max Air flight makes emergency landing at Kano Airport

Saudi Arabia bound Max Air Boeing 747 flight airlifting 554 pilgrims on Wednesday developed fault shortly after takeoff from Dutse Airport and was forced to land at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

The management of Max Air in a statement confirmed the occurrence while explaining that the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions.

The management added that the windscreen of the aircraft had a slight crack shortly after it took off from Dutse Airport, prompting the aircraft to divert to MAKIA.

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All the pilgrims have been taken care of and that they have been safely transferred to another aircraft to continue their journey to the holy land, the statement said.

The airline assured its passengers that it is committed to passengers safety and comfort, adding that the incident was due to adverse weather conditions.

It added that the prompt and professional response by the crew ensured a smooth diversion and landing mitigating any potential risk.

Max Air says it maintains rigorous maintenance standards to ensure the airworthiness of its fleet in compliance with international aviation regulations.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.