NCAA Suspends Max Air for Three Months After Several Flight Safety Incidents

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended commercial airline Max Air from domestic flight operations for three months following an incident involving one of its aircraft at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday night.

A spokesman for the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a probe into the incident.

The NCAA will provide the required support to the NSIB in this regard. It must be stated that the specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation,” the statement read.

The suspension, effective from midnight on January 31, 2025, will allow Max Air to conduct an internal review of its operations. Meanwhile, 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 organisation, 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 added.

The regulator stated that Max Air’s resumption of domestic flights would depend on a successful audit, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to passengers but emphasising that safety remains the top priority.

However, this is not the first time Max Air has been scrutinised for safety concerns. The airline has been involved in multiple incidents over the past two years, raising questions about its operational standards.

On May 7, 2023, one of its aircraft suffered multiple tyre bursts while landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The incident involved 143 passengers and temporarily shut down the airport as authorities worked to clear the runway.

More recently, on December 5, 2024, a Max Air Boeing 737-3H4 with registration number 5N-BBM caught fire just 10 minutes after takeoff from Maiduguri Airport. The aircraft, carrying over 70 passengers, including Borno State Deputy Governor Usman Kadafur, was forced to make an emergency landing.

Another incident occurred on July 21, 2024, when a Max Air Boeing 737-400 with registration number 5N-ADB suffered a rear tyre burst while taxiing for takeoff at Yola Airport.

A December 2024 report by West Africa Weekly highlighted that between 2023 and 2024, Max Air recorded at least seven major safety incidents, including multiple tyre bursts and mechanical failures.

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