Max Air, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, faces a suspension of its domestic operations imposed by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
In an official letter with reference NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363, the NCAA directed the immediate suspension of Parts A3 and D43, which pertain to the operation of Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft.
The airline’s Aircraft Authorization (Part A3) and Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications (Part D43) have been suspended until further notice, forcing Max Air to halt its domestic operations until the regulatory agency lifts the suspension.
The letter, signed by Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, Director of Operations Training & Licensing, on behalf of Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director General of Civil Aviation, stated, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd. with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet.”
The suspension was imposed due to a series of incidents involving Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft.
These incidents include the loss of a main landing gear wheel during a flight from Yola Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 7, 2023, a fuel contamination leading to an auxiliary power unit shutdown in Yola on July 7, 2023,
Other issues include an aborted take-off at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport due to high exhaust gas temperature on July 11, 2023, and an air return to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport due to duct overheat indication on the same day.
To address these concerns, the NCAA has assembled a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of Max Air.
The airline’s privileges regarding Operations Specifications will only be restored once the audit results are deemed satisfactory by the regulatory authority.
Until then, Max Air remains grounded, awaiting the opportunity to resume its domestic operations
