The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday announced the suspension of a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Max Air.
The Authority said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Sam Adurogboye that the suspension took immediate effect.
It said the action was based on several occurrences that involved the Boeing B737 aircraft type.
One of the occurrences was the aircraft’s loss of main landing gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving Boeing 737-400 aircraft marked 5N-MBO which occurred between takeoff at Yola Airport and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on May 7, 2023.
Another was fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of a B737-300 marked 5N-MHM, leading to the auxiliary power unit (APU) shutdown on ground at Yola Airport on July 7, 2023.
Also given as reason for the action was the aborted take-off of the Boeing 737-400 aircraft, marked 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high exhaust gas temperature indication on July 11, 2023.
Furthermore, NCAA said the carrier’s Boeing 737-300 marked 5N-MHM had an air return at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on the July 11, 2023.
The regulatory body said it constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of the airline organisation.
“The result of the audit on Max Air Limited must be satisfactory before the airline would be allowed to further operate the aircraft type,” it said.
The authority pledged its commitment to continuously “provide a robust oversight role for the industry” but not tolerate violations of safety.
