The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered immediate suspension of Max Air Boeing B737 aircraft from plying the nation’s airspace with immediate effect.
The directive was conveyed in a letter titled ‘Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect’ dated 12 July, 2023 with Reference Number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363 to the airline’s management.
Specifically, the letter which was signed by the NCAA Director of Operations, Training and Licensing, Captain Ibrahim Dambazau, on behalf of NCAA Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, directed that all domestic flights of Max Air would be disallowed until the suspension is lifted.
The letter reads: “The Authority’s action is due to the several occurrences that involved your Boeing B737 aircraft as listed hereunder:
“Loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD which occurred between Take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May, 2023.
“Fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on ground Yola Airport on the 7th of July, 2023.
“Aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on the 11th of July, 2023.
“An air return by aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on the 11th of July, 2023.
“The authority has constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of your organization. The result of this audit, it said, must be found satisfactory by the Authority prior to considering the restoration of the privileges of the operations specifications to your organisation to further operate the aircraft type”, the NCAA added.
