Eight people narrowly escaped injury on Sunday when the landing gear of a FlyBird aircraft collapsed during touchdown at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State. 

The Hawker 800XP, operated by FlyBird Aircraft Management Services Limited, was on a non-scheduled domestic flight from Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when the incident occurred. The airline confirmed that the flight crew followed all safety protocols, successfully bringing the aircraft to a controlled stop and ensuring the safe evacuation of everyone onboard.

“All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported,” the airline stated. They also mentioned that the aircraft has been secured and is undergoing a thorough technical inspection in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) clarified that only eight people were onboard, comprising two cockpit crew members, one cabin crew member, and five passengers, correcting earlier reports that indicated there were 11 individuals involved.

According to NSIB spokesperson Bimbo Oladeji, the flight crew reported an issue with the landing gear indication while approaching Kano. The aircraft made several low passes over the runway to allow air traffic controllers to visually confirm the position of the landing gear. Each pass confirmed that all three landing gears appeared to be fully extended.

The aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 06 and touched down at 10:34 a.m. However, during the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, prompting an evacuation.

The NSIB has activated its Go-Team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, examining the aircraft systems, operational procedures, maintenance records, and crew actions. Oladeji emphasized that the investigation aims to identify safety issues and prevent future occurrences rather than to assign blame.

Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.