The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations for three months following a tyre burst incident involving one of its aircraft at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, January 28, 2025, when a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registered as 5N-MBD, experienced a tyre failure while landing at approximately 10:51 p.m. Despite the alarming situation, all 53 passengers on board were safely evacuated.
However, the aircraft was temporarily grounded, leading to the closure of the runway until the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reopened it at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has since launched a probe into the cause of the incident, marking the third safety-related occurrence involving Max Air in just three months.
Confirming the airline’s suspension, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, announced that the regulatory authority would not only support the NSIB’s investigation but would also conduct an independent assessment of Max Air’s operations.
According to Achimugu, the NCAA had already been conducting an organisational risk evaluation of all scheduled airlines, including Max Air, before the latest incident.
However, given the recent development, the airline will now suspend its domestic operations starting from midnight on January 31, 2025, to allow for an internal operational review.
During this suspension period, the NCAA will undertake a comprehensive safety and economic audit of Max Air.
The safety audit will involve a re-examination of the airline’s organisational structure, operational procedures, personnel qualifications, and fleet maintenance in line with Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Regulations.
Meanwhile, the economic audit will assess the financial stability of the airline to determine its ability to maintain safe flight operations.
The NCAA emphasized that Max Air’s domestic flights would only resume after a satisfactory completion of the audit.
While acknowledging the inconvenience this decision might cause passengers, the regulatory body reassured the public that safety remains its utmost priority.
Passengers who had planned to travel with Max Air are advised to make alternative arrangements while awaiting further updates on the airline’s status.
