NAHCON allays Hajj concerns as NCAA suspends Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended operation of Boeing B737 aircraft in the fleet of Max Air Limited. This was as National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) assured pilgrims and stakeholders that the suspension would not affect airlift of passengers returning from Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Director (Information and Publications), Mousa Ubandawaki, said: “A clarification became necessary to calm pilgrims and relatives back at home, that the suspension order is limited to domestic air services, and does not affect international operations. The commission, therefore, wishes to assure all Nigerians and pilgrims, in particular, that the ongoing airlift of Nigerian pilgrims will continue undisturbed.”

NCAA, in a statement, yesterday, said it took the action, following incidents involving the aircraft type.

They included loss of Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during a serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, with registration 5N-MBO, which occurred between take-off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State, and landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on May 7, 2023.

Others were: “Fuel contamination of the main fuel tank of B737-300 (5N-MHM), leading to Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown, at Yola Airport, on July 7, 2023.

“Aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 (5N-MBD), which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on July 11, 2023, and an air return by B737-300 (5N-MHM) to NAIA, due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on July 11, 2023.

The statement said the authority set up a team of inspectors to conduct audit of the organisation and insisted results must be satisfactory before the airline would be allowed to further operate the aircraft type.

NCAA said it would continue to provide robust oversight for the industry, while violation of safety regulations would be viewed seriously.