What happened
On the afternoon of May 11, 2026, Max Air Limited flight NGL1620 departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) in Abuja bound for Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport (DNKT) in Katsina. The Boeing 737-300, registered as 5N-DAB, carried 82 passengers and a crew of six at the time of departure.
Following takeoff on Runway 22, air traffic control instructed the aircraft to climb through Flight Level 080 while navigating around high terrain. Approximately four minutes after leaving the ground, at roughly 17:21 local time, the flight crew reported hearing a loud bang originating from the left engine (Engine Number 1). This was immediately followed by an uncommanded shutdown of that engine.
Despite the mechanical failure, the aircraft remained controllable. The crew requested to return to Abuja due to operational reasons and was cleared for a descent and ILS approach to Runway 22. The aircraft landed safely at DNAA approximately nine minutes after the incident occurred. A preliminary maintenance check indicated that the left engine rotated freely by hand but exhibited vibration during motoring.
The investigation
The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) was notified by Max Air Limited on the day of the occurrence. Investigators were dispatched to Abuja to conduct post-occurrence assessments under the Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 and ICAO Annex 13 standards.
Key investigative steps taken so far include:
- Retrieval and download of data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) at the NSIB Transport Safety Laboratory.
- Preliminary maintenance inspection of the aircraft by Max Air personnel.
- Collection of fuel samples for further analysis.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was also retrieved, but its data was overwritten. The investigation remains ongoing, with a detailed examination of Engine Number 1 and associated components planned as a next step.
Findings
As this is a preliminary report, final conclusions have not been determined. However, the following facts have been established:
- The flight crew were qualified and the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
- The left engine shut down in flight without pilot input after a loud bang was heard.
- All 88 occupants disembarked unhurt.
- No structural damage to the airframe was observed upon landing.
- The left engine rotated freely during initial post-landing inspection, though vibration was noted.
Safety action
No safety recommendations or specific actions have been issued at this stage. The investigation is ongoing to determine the root cause of the engine shutdown.