- Max Air suspended after tyre burst incident in Kano; no injuries reported.
- NCAA orders 3-month halt for safety, economic audits; third incident in months.
- NSIB investigating cause; passengers urged to bear with safety measures.
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has suspended the domestic operations of Max Air following a tyre burst incident involving one of its aircraft at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday night, January 28, 2025.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the affected aircraft, a Boeing 737-400 with registration number 5N-MBD, experienced the tyre burst upon landing in Kano at approximately 10:51 PM. While all 53 passengers onboard were safely evacuated, the runway was temporarily closed for cleanup and reopened by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by 8:00 AM on Wednesday. This marks the third safety incident involving Max Air within three months.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. The NCAA, in a statement, pledged full cooperation with the NSIB probe. Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, emphasized that the “specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation.”
Achimugu further disclosed that Max Air’s domestic flight operations will be halted for three months, effective midnight on January 31, 2025, to allow the airline’s management to conduct an internal appraisal. During this period, the NCAA will perform a comprehensive safety and economic audit on the airline.
“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,” Achimugu stated.
He added that Max Air’s operations would only resume if the audit results are satisfactory, acknowledging the inconvenience to passengers but stressing that “the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount.”
The NCAA had earlier begun organizational risk assessments for all scheduled operators, including Max Air, which is nearing completion. The suspension underscores growing regulatory scrutiny amid recurring safety concerns in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
