Following a bad tyre incident involving one of Max Air’s aircraft at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport yesterday, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the airline from operating local flights for three months.
Marked as its third incident in three months, 53 passengers were reported to have escaped death after a Max Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration no. 5N-MBD, had a tyre burst while landing at the airport in Kano at 10:57 p.m. The incident led to the closure of the airport’s runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The NCAA in a statement issued on Wednesday said while the suspension lasts, it would collaborate with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)’s investigation and conduct its own assessment of Max Air’s operations.
“It must be stated that the specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation,” Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA said in the statement.
According to him, the NCAA was already conducting an organisational risk assessment for all scheduled airlines, including Max Air, prior to the recent incident.
“However, as a result of this incident, Max Air is suspending its domestic flight operations for three months, effective from midnight on 31 January 2025, to allow for an internal review of its operations,” he stated.
He continued: “The safety audit will involve a re-inspection of Max Air’s organisation, procedures, personnel, and aircraft, as specified by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations. The economic audit will evaluate the airline’s financial stability to guarantee its ability to maintain safe flight operations.
“The resumption of Max Air’s domestic flights will depend on the satisfactory completion of this audit.”
The NCAA acknowledged potential travel disruptions but emphasized that safety remains its utmost priority.
