The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken the decision to suspend the operations of all Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to Max Air due to ongoing safety concerns.
This decision comes after a series of incidents involving the airline’s fleet.
In a letter addressed to Max Air, with the reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363 and dated July 12, 2023, titled “Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect,” the suspension was officially conveyed.
The letter from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority stated, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) 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.”
Furthermore, the letter instructed Max Air to “immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet.”
This suspension comes as a result of a series of incidents involving Max Air’s Boeing B737 aircraft. The letter outlined the specific occurrences leading to this decision.
One incident involved the loss of the Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during a serious incident with a Boeing 737-400 aircraft registered as 5N-MBD. This incident occurred between take-off at Yola Airport in Adamawa State and landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 7, 2023.
Another incident cited in the letter was fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of a Boeing 737-300 with registration marks 5N-MHM. This contamination resulted in the shutdown of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) while on the ground at Yola Airport on July 7, 2023.
Furthermore, an aborted take-off occurred on July 11, 2023, involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft registered as 5N-MBD at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). The cause of the aborted take-off was a high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication.
In addition, on the same day, an air return was carried out by a Boeing 737-300 aircraft registered as 5N-MHM, which returned to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to a duct overheat indication in the cockpit.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has also formed a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of Max Air’s organization. The outcome of this audit must be deemed satisfactory by the authority before considering the restoration of operational privileges for the Boeing 737 aircraft type within Max Air’s fleet.
Max Air has yet to comment on the suspension, but passengers and industry stakeholders are eagerly awaiting their response as this decision will have a significant impact on the airline’s operations and reputation.
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