The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and scores of other passengers escaped death after the engine of a Max Air aircraft flying the Kano-Abuja route failed.

The Max Air plane with the number VM1645 which was slated for take-off 1.30pm had about a 30minutes delay.

The aircraft took off around 2:00 pm but, after 10 minutes, began to swerve around the air until a detour for an emergency landing.

Sources said the incident was allegedly caused by an engine failure, just as others attributed the incident to a bird strike.

However, a passenger, Dr. Samaila Suleiman, accused the Max Air of negligence, recalling that he heard a sound just before the plane took off.

According to him, "I heard a strange sound during the take-off but brushed it aside. I have used aircraft many times but had never heard such a sound during take-off.

“The cabin crew members and the pilot were helpless because they apparently lost control of the aircraft.”

Suleiman lamented that no radio announcement was made until the airport landed.

“It was a near-death experience. I and many other passengers were traumatised. Many of us cancelled to trip and returned home.”