A private jet operated by Flybird Aircraft Management Services Limited suffered a nose wheel collapse while landing at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday, with all 11 passengers and three crew members escaping unhurt.
The aircraft, registered as 5N-ISB, was arriving from Abuja when the incident occurred at about 9:30 am. According to eyewitnesses and airport sources, the nose landing gear failed on touchdown, causing the jet to veer slightly off the runway before coming to a stop. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed, and all occupants were evacuated safely. No injuries were recorded.
Flybird, in a statement, described the occurrence as an “unusual landing” and confirmed that standard safety procedures were followed throughout. “The flight crew adhered strictly to all operational and safety protocols, and the aircraft was brought to a safe stop,” the company said, adding that passengers and crew disembarked without complications.
The aircraft has since been secured, and the incident formally reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). Both agencies have commenced technical inspections and investigations to determine the cause of the landing gear failure.
Flybird, a non-scheduled charter operator that received its Air Operator Certificate from the NCAA in June 2024, reaffirmed its commitment to safety. The incident is the second involving the company in recent weeks, following an earlier engine-related issue on a separate aircraft en route to Accra in early December 2025. That flight also concluded safely without injuries.
