The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air for three months following a safety incident involving one of its aircraft at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night when Max Air flight B734, operated by an aircraft with registration marks 5N-MBD, experienced a wheel landing gear collapse and tire burst upon landing at 10:51 pm. The incident caused panic among the 53 passengers and six crew members on board, though no major injuries were reported.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that the runway has been cleared, and normal flight operations have resumed.

In response, the NCAA stated that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the incident, with the NCAA offering full support. The regulator emphasized that the cause of the incident will only be determined after the investigation is completed.

The NCAA also noted that an organizational risk profile review of all scheduled operators, including Max Air, was already underway and nearing completion. As a result of the incident, Max Air will suspend its domestic flight operations from midnight, January 31, 2025, for three months. This suspension will allow the airline to conduct an internal operational review.

During this suspension, the NCAA will carry out a comprehensive safety and economic audit of Max Air. The safety audit will include a re-inspection of the airline's operations, procedures, personnel, and aircraft, while the economic audit will assess the airline’s financial health to ensure it can maintain safe operations.

Max Air's domestic flight operations will only resume once both audits have been satisfactorily completed. The NCAA acknowledged the inconvenience this may cause passengers but emphasized that passenger safety is its top priority.

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