Sequel to the suspension of Max Air by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) says it is worried about the growing spate of near-fatal incidents in the Nigerian local travel space in recent times, noting that safety operational ecosystem must be prioritized for the sake of passengers.

NANTA, therefore appealed to all airline operators and government aviation regulatory agencies to come together, settle any perceived differences and address all safety concerns for the sake of the Nigerian travelling public

On Wednesday, 28th January 2025, NCAA announced that it had commenced organisational risk audit for each airline operating in Nigeria, including Max Air, shortly after the airline’s B-734 aircraft with registration mark 5N- MBD suffered a tyre burst on landing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Tuesday Night.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had immediately removed the aircraft from the runway after the fifty-three (53) passengers, and the crew disembarked unhurt from the incident.

NANTA, in a statement on Thursday evening, signed by its President, Mr. Yinka Folami and made available to the press, advised that all hands must be activated to restore confidence in air travel across Nigeria, adding that we do not need unpleasant aviation mishaps; the Nigerian travelling public is already going through a lot and deserves better.

“We are concerned about the tail signs of near misses and operational discomforts ongoing in the Nigerian Air Space, and as much as we commend ongoing investigations to unravel the challenges in the system, we urge all service providers and government agencies to proactively enhance their emergency response systems to ensure the safety and unimpeded journeys of the Nigerian traveling public.”

Some of our customers have called us to express their anxieties and worries, and as major stakeholders in the aviation downstream sector, we can not pretend that we are not concerned, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami further stated.

We appeal to Airline Operators, Government Agencies, and all Aviation Players to come together and address differences. Nigeria is at a phase where we must work together for collective prosperity.

By working together, we can minimize risks and maximize passengers’ protection.