The Federal Government has imposed a three-month suspension on Max Air’s domestic operations following a landing incident in Kano on Tuesday night.
The suspension was announced by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as part of safety measures.
A Max Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registered as 5N-MBD, suffered a tyre burst while landing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport at approximately 10:51 PM on January 28, 2025.
Fortunately, all 53 passengers onboard were safely evacuated, and the runway was reopened by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at 8:00 AM on Wednesday.
This marks the airline’s third incident in three months, raising concerns about its safety standards.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the malfunction, with the NCAA pledging full cooperation.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, stated that Max Air’s suspension will take effect from midnight on January 31, 2025.
He explained that the airline’s management will use this period to conduct an internal assessment of its operations.
“In the meantime, the NCAA will carry out a comprehensive safety and economic audit of Max Air. The safety audit will examine the airline’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft, while the economic audit will assess its financial strength to ensure sustainable safe operations,” Achimugu said.
He emphasized that the resumption of Max Air’s domestic flights will depend on the successful completion of the audit.
While acknowledging the inconvenience to passengers, he reassured the public that safety remains the NCAA’s top priority.
Passengers are urged to remain patient as authorities work to ensure that Max Air meets the required aviation safety standards before resuming operations.
