Bello Alhassan, Kaduna
DAILY COURIER – Max Air, one of Nigeria's prominent domestic carriers, has announced the suspension of its operations for three months following an incident involving one of its aircraft at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the suspension in a statement on Wednesday, detailing the incident and subsequent regulatory actions. According to the NCAA, the Max Air B734 aircraft, with registration 5N-MBD, suffered a landing gear collapse and a tire burst while landing at the airport on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 10:51 pm.
The aircraft, carrying six crew members and 53 passengers, sparked panic among those onboard but fortunately resulted in no major injuries. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) quickly cleared the runway, and normal flight operations resumed at the airport shortly after.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine its cause. The NCAA stated it would support the NSIB in its efforts.
“The specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation,” the NCAA said in its statement.
As part of its response to the incident, Max Air announced a suspension of all domestic flight operations starting at midnight on January 31, 2025. The airline said the suspension would allow it to conduct an internal appraisal of its operations.
During this period, the NCAA will conduct a comprehensive safety and economic audit of the airline.
“The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of Max Air’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3(b) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of the airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations,” the NCAA explained.
The resumption of Max Air’s domestic flights will depend on the satisfactory completion of these audits.
The NCAA emphasized that the decision to suspend Max Air’s operations was made in the interest of passenger safety and well-being.
“The NCAA is aware of the inconvenience this action may cause intending passengers of Max Air. However, the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount,” the statement concluded.
This is not the first time Max Air has faced regulatory action. In July 2023, the NCAA temporarily suspended its operations due to safety concerns but later lifted the sanction after compliance with regulatory requirements.
As the investigation continues, the aviation industry and passengers will await further updates from the NCAA and NSIB on the findings and the future of Max Air’s operations.
