BY CHRIS KITCHING
The passengers were returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia when the plane crashed near Minna, Nigeria.
The plane crash landed at the airport near Minna, Nigeria, it was reported
A double-decker plane carrying worshippers home from an annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia has crash landed at an airport in Nigeria.
The aircraft was reportedly carrying more than 600 passengers when it crashed and skidded along a runway at the international airport near Minna.
Terrified passengers rushed off the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet – which is operated by Max Air and was flying in from Jeddah, according to flight-tracking websites – to safety.
The plane is reported to have suffered a technical fault in one of its four engines as it made its final approach to the airport near Minna.
A witness told the journalists that no-one was injured or killed, but passengers were visibly shaken after escaping the damaged plane.
Passengers rushed off the plane once it came to a stop, it was reported
Plane evacuated after take-off is aborted when engine sucks in bird on runway
Part of the runway was damaged and there was debris on the ground following Saturday morning’s crash landing, the news reported.
An airport official told the journalists that a fire would have had catastrophic consequences because the airport doesn’t have its own fire brigade.
The official said: “The fire that would have followed would have spread to all parts of the airport because we don’t have fire fighting vehicles in this airport.”
The plane was carrying more than 600 pilgrims who were returning home from Saudi Arabia, the report added.
A report by journalists said at least 550 pilgrims were on the plane when it crashed at about 5am local time.
It said the pilot was “devastated” following the incident.
An airport official told the website: “I have never seen this type of thing in my life is only God and God alone that saved us from a terrible incident.”
Nigerian state officials have launched an investigation into the incident.
Max Air has not yet commented.
Based in Kano, Nigeria, the airline is a small carrier with eight aircraft in its fleet, flying domestically and to destinations in the Middle East.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia was held last month, attracting more than two million Muslims.
