FG suspends operation of Max Airlines

The NCAA said its action on Max Air was due to several occurrences involving the Boeing B737 aircraft.

Tosin Ajuwon • July 13, 2023

Max Airline (Credit: Max Airline)

The federal government has suspended the domestic operations of Max Air, one of the leading airlines in Nigeria.

In a letter on Thursday, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) directed the suspension of Parts A3 and D43 regarding the operation of Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft type with immediate effect.

The director of training & licensing, Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, signed the letter on behalf of the Director General of Civil Aviation, Musa Nuhu.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorisation) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the operations specifications issued to Max Air Ltd. with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet.

“With the above suspension, you are to immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet,” the regulatory body said.

The NCAA said its action on Max Air was due to several occurrences involving the Boeing B737 aircraft, noting that it had constituted a team of inspectors to audit the airline.

Part of the occurrences listed in the letter includes “the Loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBDwhich occurred between Take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May 2023.

“Another incident was fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, registration marks; 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on ground at Yola Airport on the 7th of July, 2023.”

It added, “The third incident was the aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on the 11th of July, 2023.

“Lastly, an air return by aircraft B737-300, registration marks; 5N-MHM, to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on the 11th of July, 2023.”

The federal government action showed that the airline’s domestic operations would be halted pending when the regulatory agency lifts the suspension.

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