The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended all Boeing 737 aircraft in the Max Air fleet, with immediate effect.
The regulatory board issued a circular titled ‘Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect’ on July 12, 2023, with reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363.
The NCAA has formed a team of inspectors to conduct an audit on every Boeing 737 in the airline’s fleet, according to a statement that was signed by Captain Musa Nuhu, the director general, and Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, the director of operations, training, and licencing for the NCAA.
NCAA Nigeria records two million domestic traffic movements in the first quarter of 2023. Experts say the most recent suspension order can be linked to accidents affecting a few of Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft.
“The Nigeria 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 Authority’s action is due to the several occurrences that involved your Boeing B737 aircraft. These are loss of number one 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 onlanding at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May, 2023,” the letter partly reads, Zawya reported.
“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 the 7th of July, 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 the 11th of July, 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 letter further reads.