NCAA suspends Max Air domestic operations

MIKE OCHONMA

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended domestic operations of all Boeing 737 aircraft of Max Air.

The suspension order is contained in a letter dated July 12, 2023, saying the action was over unsafe occurrences.

The letter which was titled, ‘suspension of parts A3 and D43 of the operations specifications issued to Max Air with immediate effect’, was signed by Ibrahim Dambazau, the NCAA director of operations, training and licensing, on behalf of its director- general, Musa Nuhu.

The letter read in part, “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 landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria on May 7, 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 at Yola Airport on July 7, 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 July 11, 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 organisation.

“The result of this audit 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”.