With four (4) occurrences recorded this year alone by Max Air involving its Boeing 737 aircraft, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday placed an indefinite suspension on all the airlines Boeing B737 aircraft type.
The occurrences were recorded between May and July this year in Abuja, Kano and Yola.
The letter of suspension, NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363, to Maxair signed by the NCAA’s Director of Operations Training & Licensing, Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, on behalf of the Director General, reads: “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.
“With the above suspension, you are to immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet.”
Parts A3 of NCAA regulations deals with the airline’s Aircraft Authorization and D43 deals with Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd.
The letter also detailed all the occurrences involving its Boeing B737 aircraft which led to the Authority’s action which includes;
1. Loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBDwhich occurred between Take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May, 2023;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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 letter also disclosed that, with the development, a team of inspectors has been constituted to conduct an audit on Max Air and the outcome of the audit if satisfactory will determine whether the suspended aircraft type will return to operation or not.