NCAA Slams 3-Month Suspension On Max Air Over Safety Concerns

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations for three months following a tyre burst incident of one of the airlines planes during landing in Kano on Tuesday.

The authority’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who announced the suspension of the airline on Wednesday, stated that the regulatory body would collaborate with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB)’s investigation and conduct its own assessment of the airline’s operations.

On Tuesday, a Max Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration No. 5N-MBD and 53 passengers on board, had a tyre burst while landing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport at about 10:57 p.m.

The passengers were safely evacuated and following a brief closure, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) reopened the runway by 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

Achimugu stated: “It must be stated that the specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation.”

According to him, the NCAA has commenced an organisational risk assessment for all scheduled airlines, including Max Air, prior to the recent incident.

He clarified, however, that as a result of this incident, Max Air would suspend “its domestic flight operations for three months, effective from midnight on 31 January 2025, to allow for an internal review of its operations.”

The NCAA’s spokesperson stated that throughout the suspension, the NCAA would undertake a thorough safety and financial audit of Max Air, which will “involve a re-inspection of Max Air’s organisation, procedures, personnel, and aircraft, as specified by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.”

In addition, the economic audit will evaluate the airline’s financial stability to guarantee its ability to maintain safe flight operations and its resumption of domestic flights will depend on the satisfactory completion of this audit.

Noting that the exercise could result in potential travel disruptions for the airline, Achimugu maintained that despite this, safety of air travellers remained the authority’s utmost priority.

He stated: “The NCAA is aware of the inconvenience this action may cause Max Air’s intending passengers. However, the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount. We appeal for patience and understanding while we ensure the protection of passenger rights.”

There has been a string of airport mishaps in recent times. For instance, the Kano airport incident was the third recorded by Max Air in just three months.

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