The regulatory board issued a circular titled ‘Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect’ on July 12, 2023, with reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363.

The NCAA has formed a team of inspectors to conduct an audit on every Boeing 737 in the airline’s fleet, according to a statement that was signed by Captain Musa Nuhu, the director general, and Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, the director of operations, training, and licencing for the NCAA.

NCAA Nigeria records two million domestic traffic movements in the first quarter of 2023. Experts say the most recent suspension order can be linked to accidents affecting a few of Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft.

“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd, with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet. The Authority’s action is due to the several occurrences that involved your Boeing B737 aircraft. These are loss of number one Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD which occurred between take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and onlanding at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May, 2023,” the letter partly reads, Zawya reported.

“Fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, registration marks, 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on ground at Yola Airport on the 7th of July, 2023. Aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on the 11th of July, 2023. An air return by aircraft B737-300, registration marks, 5N-MHM to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on the 11th of July, 2023,” the letter further reads.

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According to an Indian Express report, while the pilots were undergoing training some routine surveillance unearthed faults in the equipment concerning the flight controls.

Commenting on the incident, DGCA chief Arun Kumar said, “For the moment we have barred the pilots from flying the aircraft and they are required to retrain themselves on the Max simulator for flying the aircraft.”

He further said that they will take strict action against anyone found responsible for the lapse. However, this restriction will not impact the operations. Spice Jet operates 11 Max aircraft with 140 pilots.

On March 13, 2019, Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded in India by the DGCA three days after the crash of an Ethiopian Airline 737 Max aircraft near Addis Ababa killing 157 people. The toll also included four Indians.

Last year in August the ban was lifted after 27 months once the DGCA was satisfied with the US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s necessary software changes.

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