On January 28, 2025, a Max Air Boeing 737 suffered a significant landing gear failure upon arrival at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The Boeing 737-400 with registration 5N-MBD en route from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, overshot the runway and crash-landed after 10 p.m.
The Boeing 737’s nose landing gear collapsed entirely, and all four main wheels burst. Passengers were evacuated through emergency exits, many in a state of panic. Despite the severity of the incident, the airline confirmed that none of the 53 passengers and six crew members were hurt.
Suspension of Domestic Flights
Following this recent incident, Max Air has announced a three-month suspension of its domestic flight operations to conduct a comprehensive safety review. The airline stated that the temporary halt will allow for fleet-wide inspections, enhanced maintenance protocols, and a reassessment of pilot training programs.
This decision comes amid growing scrutiny of Max Air’s safety record, as the airline has been involved in multiple incidents in recent years.
A Troubling Pattern of Safety Failures
The January 28 incident is not an isolated event. On May 7, 2023, the same aircraft suffered multiple tire bursts while landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, carrying 143 passengers. The incident led to a temporary airport closure as authorities worked to clear the runway.
More recently, on December 5, 2024, a Max Air Boeing 737-3H4 with registration number 5N-BBM caught fire 10 minutes after takeoff from Maiduguri Airport. The aircraft, carrying over 70 passengers, including Borno State Deputy Governor Usman Kadafur, was forced to make an emergency landing.
These repeated safety incidents have raised alarms about Max Air’s maintenance practices and overall operational safety. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has previously cited poor maintenance and power failures as contributing factors in some of these events.
