MAX AIR SUSPENDS OPERATIONS FOR THREE MONTHS AFTER KANO INCIDENT

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Max Air has suspended its operations for three months following an incident involving one of the aircraft of the local carrier at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

A spokesman for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, hours after the Tuesday night incident at the Kano airport.

The flight, Max Air B734, operated by the aircraft with registration marks 5N-MBD, on landing at the airport, at 10:51 pm, suffered a wheel landing gear collapse and a tire burst while landing on the runway at the airport throwing passengers into panic.

However, the six crew members and 53 passengers onboard did not suffer any major injuries during the incident.

According to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the runway has since been cleared and flight operations have resumed at the airport.

The regulator said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also initiated an investigation into the occurrence.

“The NCAA will provide the required support to the NSIB in this regard. It must be stated that the specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation,” the NCAA stated.

“It is instructive to note that the NCAA had commenced organisational risk profiles for each scheduled operator, including Max Air, which is nearing its conclusion.

“However, as a result of this incident, Max Air is suspending its domestic flight operations for a period of three months with effect from midnight, 31st January, 2025, to allow for an internal appraisal of its operations by its management.”

The regulator said during the period, it would conduct a thorough safety and economic audit on Max Air.

“The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of Max Air’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3(b) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of the airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations.

“The resumption of Max Air’s domestic flight operations will be predicated on the satisfactory completion of this audit.

“The NCAA is aware of the inconvenience this action may cause intending passengers of Max Air. However; the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount,” the statement concluded.

Wednesday’s suspension was not the first. The NCAA had suspended Max Air operations in July 2023 for similar issues but lifted the sanction.