Max Air is set to resume its domestic flight services after a three-month suspension prompted by a series of safety incidents.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has cleared the airline to restart operations following a thorough safety and economic audit.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed in a statement on Monday that Max Air had successfully passed rigorous inspections.

“After a comprehensive economic and safety audit, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has granted approval for Max Air to resume domestic flights,” Achimugu said.

The suspension, which began at midnight on January 31, 2025, followed a series of incidents involving the airline.

The NCAA viewed the voluntary suspension as a proactive step in addressing safety concerns within Nigeria’s aviation sector.

During the suspension, the NCAA conducted a thorough investigation into Max Air’s technical and financial stability.

This included a full re-inspection of the airline’s operations, personnel, aircraft, and procedures from February 26 to 28, 2025, in accordance with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

The results of the audit confirmed that Max Air was capable of maintaining safe flight operations, leading to the resumption of services at midnight on March 17, 2025.

However, the NCAA emphasized that the airline will remain under heightened scrutiny.

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“The NCAA will continue to closely monitor Max Air through an enhanced surveillance program to ensure ongoing compliance with safety regulations,” Achimugu added.

He also reiterated the NCAA’s commitment to ensuring that all airlines adhere to the highest safety standards to safeguard the aviation industry.

Max Air’s troubles began on January 28, 2025, when a tyre burst occurred on a Boeing 737-400 aircraft (5N-MBD) at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while landing.

The incident, which took place at 10:51 PM, resulted in the temporary grounding of the aircraft and the closure of the runway until the following morning.

All 53 passengers onboard were safely evacuated.

This incident marked the third safety event for the airline in three months, prompting the NCAA’s decision to suspend its operations.

At the time, Achimugu explained that the suspension would allow Max Air to conduct an internal review of its operations.

Alongside the NCAA’s safety audit, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau launched its own investigation into the Kano incident.

Max Air has previously faced scrutiny over its safety record, with an emergency in 2023 involving 144 passengers and six crew members.

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