The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air’s commercial operations for three months following an incident at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano involving one of the airline’s aircraft.
Michael Achimugu, a spokesman for the regulatory body, confirmed the suspension in a statement issued on Wednesday, hours after the incident occurred late Tuesday night.
The flight, Max Air B734, with the registration number 5N-MBD, was landing at 10:51 p.m. when it experienced a wheel landing gear collapse and a tire burst on the runway. The incident caused a brief moment of panic among passengers, but fortunately, none of the 53 passengers or six crew members on board were seriously injured.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reported that the runway has since been cleared and normal flight operations have resumed at the airport.
The NCAA has confirmed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the incident. The agency emphasized that the exact cause of the event will only be determined after the NSIB’s investigation is complete.
“The NCAA will fully support the NSIB in its inquiry,” the statement read. “It’s important to note that the NCAA has been conducting organizational risk assessments for all scheduled operators, including Max Air, which is in its final stages.”
Following the incident, Max Air’s domestic operations will be suspended for three months, effective midnight on January 31, 2025, to allow the airline’s management to conduct an internal review of its operations.
During this period, the NCAA will perform comprehensive safety and economic audits of Max Air. The safety audit will assess the airline’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will evaluate the airline’s financial stability to ensure its ability to sustain safe operations.
“Max Air will only resume domestic flights after successfully completing both audits,” the NCAA stated. “While we understand the inconvenience this may cause to Max Air passengers, the safety and well-being of the flying public remain our top priority.”
This is not the first time Max Air has faced regulatory action. The NCAA previously suspended the airline’s operations in July 2023 due to similar concerns, though the suspension was later lifted.
