The Federal Government, via the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations following a tire burst incident involving one of its Boeing 737-400 aircraft (registration number 5N-MBD) at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at approximately 10:51 p.m. The aircraft, carrying 53 passengers, experienced the tire burst upon landing. While all passengers were safely evacuated, the incident caused a temporary grounding of the aircraft and the closure of the runway until approximately 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. This incident marks the third such occurrence involving Max Air within a three-month period, prompting the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to launch a formal investigation.
The NCAA, through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the suspension and stated that the regulatory body will cooperate with the NSIB’s investigation while simultaneously conducting its own assessment of Max Air. Achimugu emphasized that the specific cause of the tire burst will be determined by the NSIB’s investigation. He also noted that the NCAA had already initiated an organizational risk assessment for all scheduled airlines, including Max Air, prior to this latest incident. As a consequence of the Kano incident, Max Air’s domestic operations are suspended for three months, effective from midnight on January 31, 2025.
This suspension will allow Max Air to conduct an internal review of its operations. During this period, the NCAA will perform a comprehensive safety and economic audit of the airline, encompassing a re-inspection of Max Air’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft, as well as an assessment of the airline’s financial stability to ensure its capacity to maintain safe operations. The resumption of Max Air’s flights is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of this audit. The NCAA acknowledged potential passenger disruptions but reiterated that passenger safety and well-being are paramount.
