The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered the suspension of all Max Air Boeing -737 aircraft from the country’s airspace, with immediate effect.
The suspension order was conveyed to the airline in letter, registered: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363.
The letter is dated July 12, 2023 and titled, ‘Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect’.
It was signed by Capt. Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, NCAA Director of Operations, Training and Licensing, on behalf of Capt. Musa Nuhu, Director-General of the NCAA.
Consequently, all domestic flights of Max Air will be on hold until further notice.
The letter read, “The Authority’s action is due to the several occurrences that involved your Boeing B737 aircraft as listed hereunder:
“Loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD which occurred between Take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May, 2023.
“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 Yola Airport on the 7th of July, 2023.
“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.
“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 authority has constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of your organization. The result of this audit must be found satisfactory by the Authority prior to considering the restoration of the privileges of the operations Specifications to your organisation to further operate the aircraft type.”
Established in 2008 by business mogul Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, Max Air is Nigeria’s longest serving international airline.
The airline was established in 2006 as Mangal Airlines an rebranded Max Air in 2008, operating its first commercial flight to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia from Kano.
The airline began its operations with two Boeing 747-400 aircraft for its Umrah and Hajj operation services. In June 2018, Max Air began domestic operations to three destinations which include Abuja and Lagos from its main hub in Kano.
On November 1, 2018, Max Air announced two new routes, Port Harcourt and Yola, to its domestic operations.
On November 5, Maiduguri route was launched by the airline, making it the 6th domestic destination to its operational routes.
