…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended all Boeing 737 aircraft in Max Air’s fleet due to safety concerns arising from a series of incidents.
The suspension was communicated through a letter, which outlined the reasons behind the decision.
Loss of Main Landing Gear (MLG) Wheel
During a serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration marks 5N-MBD, a loss of the Number 1 MLG wheel occurred between take-off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State, and landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria on May 7, 2023.
Fuel Contamination and APU Shutdown
On July 7, 2023, a fuel contamination issue was detected in the main fuel tanks of a Boeing 737-300 aircraft with registration marks 5N-MHM, leading to the shutdown of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) on the ground at Yola Airport.
Aborted Take-off due to High Exhaust Gas Temperature
A Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration marks 5N-MBD experienced an aborted take-off at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on July 11, 2023.
The cause was attributed to a high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication.
Air Return due to Duct Overheat Indication
On July 11, 2023, a Boeing 737-300 aircraft with registration marks 5N-MHM had to make an air return to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to a duct overheat indication in the cockpit.
Auditing and Restoration of Privileges:
In response to these incidents, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has formed a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of Max Air’s organization.
The satisfactory outcome of this audit is a prerequisite for considering the restoration of the privileges of the Operations Specifications to Max Air, thereby allowing them to resume operations with the Boeing 737 aircraft type.