Max B734 at Kano on Jan 28th 2025, nose gear collapse on landing
Last Update: January 29, 2026 / 19:18:43 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jan 28, 2025
Classification
Accident
Airline
Max Air
Flight number
VM-1605
Departure
Lagos, Nigeria
Destination
Kano, Nigeria
Aircraft Registration
5N-MBD
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-400
ICAO Type Designator
B734
Nigeria's NCAA reported the aircraft slowed down through 60 knots over ground when a loud bang was heard and the aircraft veered sharply to the left, the crew was able to quickly regain control. All occupants disembarked safely. Nigeria's SIB have dispatched investigators on site. The airline has been suspended for 3 months starting Jan 31st 2025 for a safety review.
A passenger reported smoke developed in the cabin during the landing roll, the aircraft was evacuated via slides, emergency services sprayed the aircraft with water to contain flames.
The airline reported all occupants were safely evacuated.
On Jan 28th 2026 Nigeria's NSIB released an interim statement stating:
he final report is currently being compiled. The investigation is awaiting the results of the detailed inspection and examination of the Nose Landing Gear Assembly and the tires by Boeing and Dunlop, respectively.
and reporting:
On 28 January 2025, a Boeing 737-400 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-MBD operated by Max Air Limited was scheduled to operate six flight sectors: AbujaKano, Kano-Abuja, Abuja-Bauchi, Bauchi-Abuja, Abuja-Lagos, and Lagos-Kano, with six crew members (two cockpit and four cabin crew). The crew resumed duty at about 13:00
h.
According to the maintenance engineer, during post-flight inspection after the second sector, he observed that the nose wheel tires were worn to the limit and the equipment to carry out the replacement was not available. The engineer sought the opinion of a colleague, and they concluded that the aircraft could be flown for another sector to Bauchi, pending the availability of the equipment.
On the fifth sector, nose wheel tires were replaced in accordance with Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 32-45-21. At about 20:09 h, 5N-MBD departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (DNMM) as NGL 1645 and arrived at about 21:00 h. On ground DNMM, the Pilot carried out a post-flight inspection of the aircraft and observed no abnormalities.
At about 21:42 h, 5N-MBD departed DNMM as flight NGL 1605 for DNKN with 59 persons on board (six crew and 53 passengers) on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan with an endurance of four hours. The Captain was the Pilot Flying (PF) while the Co-pilot was the Pilot Monitoring (PM), and the flight continued normally.
At 22:15:09.3 h, while enroute, the crew was heard discussing the removal of a lock wheel protection.
At 22:22:54 h, NGL 1605 established contact with Kano Area Control (ACC) and shortly after, reported “WE ARE FROM LAGOS TO KANO FL 270 5N-MBD A B737-400 ON-BOARD WE HAVE 59 POB 6 CREW AND ESTIMATE “KAN” 2147 ENDURANCE REMAINING 0330”.
Tower (TWR) responded, “CLEARED KAN FL 270 NO DELAY EXPECTED ILS APPROACH RWY 06 QNH 1019 TIME 2123 REPORT RELEASED BY KANO CONTROL”.
At 22:42:24 h, NGL 1605 reported “APPROACHING 25NM,” and TWR responded, “AT 25NM DESCEND 4000FT ON QNH 1019 CLEARED ILS APPROACH RWY 06 REPORT ESTABLISHED”.
At 22:45:12 h, NGL 1605 reported “ESTABLISHED SHOWING 9MILES” TWR cleared NGL 1605 to land RWY 06, wind calm, indicating southwesterly, and NGL 1605 acknowledged.
At 22:45:43.4 h, RADALT called out twenty-five hundred.
At 22:45:47.2 h, the PF requested “GEARS DOWN FLAPS 15 SPEED IS CHECKED,” and PM acknowledged.
At 22:48:38.4 h, the RADALT called out “FIFTY FORTY THIRTY TWENTY TEN” followed by the PM’s response “SPEED BRAKES IS UP,” and the PF acknowledged.
At 22:49:00.3 h, the aircraft landed right of the runway 06 centerline; an unidentified loud mechanical sound was heard, followed by another at 22:49:12.1 h.
At 22:49:35.4 h, the PM declared MAY DAY and requested immediate assistance.
All the passengers disembarked the aircraft unhurt using the stairs.
The accident occurred at night.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jan 28, 2025
Classification
Accident
Airline
Max Air
Flight number
VM-1605
Departure
Lagos, Nigeria
Destination
Kano, Nigeria
Aircraft Registration
5N-MBD
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-400
ICAO Type Designator
B734
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Max B734 at Yola and Abuja on May 7th 2023, dropped wheel assembly on departure, small gear fire on landing
A Max Air Boeing 737-400, registration 5N-MBD performing a flight from Yola to Abuja (Nigeria) with 144 passengers and 6 crew, burst at least one…
Max B733 at Yola on Jul 21st 2024, rejected takeoff due to tyre damage
A Max Air Boeing 737-300, registration 5N-ADB performing flight VM-1649 from Yola to Abuja (Nigeria) with 113 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating…
Max B733 at Maiduguri on Dec 4th 2024, bird strike
A Max Air Boeing 737-300, registration 5N-BBM performing flight VM-1623 from Maiduguri to Lagos (Nigeria), was in the initial climb out of Maiduguri…
Max B744 at Minna on Sep 7th 2019, "epileptic" ILS and engine pod strike on landing
A Max Air Boeing 747-400, registration 5N-DBK performing Hajj flight NR-2092 from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Minna (Nigeria) with 560 passengers and 18…
Max Air B733 at Benin on 11th Dec 2021, ground collision with other aircraft while taxiing
A Max Air B737-300 with registration 5N-ADB collided with an Air Peace B737-300 during taxiing at Benin Airport in Nigeria. Max Air B737-300…
Newest articles
Batik Malaysia B738 at Kuala Lumpur on Apr 12th 2026, engine problems
A Batik Air Malaysia Boeing 737-800, registration 9M-LNP performing flight OD-293 from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Male (Maldives), was climbing out…
Fleet type match
United B753 at Chicago on Apr 12th 2026, door problem
A United Boeing 757-300, registration N57857 performing flight UA-576 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was climbing out of Chicago…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways