Max Air Suspended for Three Months After Kano Incident

Max Air has been slammed with three months grounding following an incident on January 28, 2025 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. In the incident the plane lost its landing tyre as it burst into fames during landing.  The Boeing 737, with 53 passengers aboard, was safely evacuated, and the airport reopened by 8:00 AM the next day.  This marks the third safety issue for Max Air in recent months. READ ALSO: Muslims tasked to watch out for Sha’aban moon on Wednesday The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the suspension of the airline’s domestic flights starting January 31, 2025, to allow for internal reviews.  During this period, the NCAA will also conduct an audit of Max Air’s safety and financial operations.  The airline will resume operations only after passing the necessary evaluations.  The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an inquiry into the incident, though the exact cause remains unclear until the investigation is completed.  The NCAA has assured the public that passenger safety remains the top priority, and the suspension will help address ongoing concerns.

Safety Violation: HEDA Petitions Police, Wants Probe, Sanction Of Max Air

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force against Max Air, citing grave concerns over the endangerment of lives due to reported safety violations. This move comes in the wake of Max Air’s purported presentation of altered records to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and its alleged engagement of unauthorized engineers in aircraft servicing. Max Air was suspended after one of its aircraft crash-landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 7, 2023. The incident imperiled the lives of more than 143 passengers on board In a petition signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, the CSO detailed the findings of the NCAA audit, which was conducted between July 17, 2023, and July 20, 2023. The audit exposed a litany of safety deficiencies within Max Air’s operations, ultimately resulting in a second suspension. “HEDA therefore unequivocally calls for a thorough and exhaustive investigation into these allegations, as well as appropriate legal actions against the management of Max Air Ltd,” it said, in the petition. The comprehensive 11-page audit report and accompanying correspondences revealed a staggering 27 critical safety issues observed within the airline’s fleet under scrutiny. “These issues encompassed a wide range of concerns, including but not limited to: Alleged submission of altered records to the NCAA, coupled with the failure to replace life-limited components in accordance with regulations, and absence of substantial evidence to defend the airworthiness of recently installed landing gears on one of Max Air’s aircraft. “Other breaches are: documentation of incorrect maintenance practices, notably following a bird strike incident; the engagement of unauthorized engineers in performing maintenance tasks; neglect of mandatory duplicate inspections following pivotal tasks; ineffective management of Airworthiness Directives for the entire fleet; shortcomings in the qualifications of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) personnel; and non-compliance with established procedures for ensuring the efficacy of the Aircraft Maintenance Program. “These serious findings highlight a pattern of disregard for safety regulations and standards by Max Air, putting the lives of air travelers at risk. HEDA strongly urged the Nigeria Police to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the contents of the NCAA audit report and to take action.