Following a string of incidents, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has put a halt to the operation of every Boeing 737 in Max Air’s fleet due to safety concerns.
The suspension was announced in a letter headed “Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect,” dated July 12, 2023, and bearing reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363.
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd. with respect to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet,” the letter’s opening line states.
“With the aforementioned suspension, you are to immediately halt flight operations for all of your Boeing B737 aircraft.
“The Authority’s decision is a result of the several incidents involving your Boeing B737 aircraft, which are detailed below:
“Loss of Number 1 Main arrival Gear (MLG) wheel during a serious incident involving Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which happened on May 7, 2023, between takeoff from Yola Airport in Adamawa State and on arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria.”
fuel contamination of the B737-300’s main fuel tanks, with the registration marks 5N-MHM, causing the APU to shut down at Yola Airport on July 7, 2023.
“On July 11, 2023, a Boeing 737-400 aircraft with the registration number 5N-MBD was forced to abort takeoff at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport because of a high exhaust gas temperature signal.
“An air return by B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on July 11, 2023, as a result of duct overheat alert in the cockpit.”
Lastly, the letter stated that a team of inspectors have been assembled by the authority to audit the organization and that before considering restoring the privileges of the operations Specifications to the organization to continue operating the aircraft type, it stated that the Authority must find the results of this audit sufficient.
