Max Air: NCAA Probes Three Oil Firms Over Contaminated Aviation Fuel

The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,(NCAA) Captain Musa Nuhu, has stated that the agency is investigating some oil companies in relation to the contamination of Jet A1 sold to Max Air some days ago.

Captain Nuhu disclosed that the agency has identified three aviation fuel suppliers in the course of its investigation into the circumstances that led to contamination in the aviation fuel supplied to Max Air some days ago.

The DG, NCAA said, “We are investigating the whole thing and we learned that the particular aircraft took fuel from Lagos, Kano, and Abuja. I expect to get a report as regards the fuelling stations. Any station found wanting will be suspended till all these issues are resolved.”

In a Zoom meeting with aviation correspondents on Thursday, Captain Nuhu disclosed that Max Air’s B737 operations were grounded, following a series of incidents recorded, with the major one being fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, with registration Marks; 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit shut down on ground Yola Airport on July 7, 2023.

Captain Nuhu stated further that the aircraft involved in the incident was grounded immediately while the crew was interrogated the next day.

“Yes, it’s true, the operations of the Max Air B737 fleet have been suspended for a series of issues they’ve had over a couple of times. We did have a meeting with Max Air about a month ago after the landing incident in Abuja, and a lot of issues were trashed out.

“As you are all aware, several days ago, there was a video that went viral with regards to the issue they had on ground in Yola where supposedly, drops of water was removed from the aircraft. Certainly, during aircraft fuelling, they had water in it but we do not know the amount because we were not there.”

“That same day, when the report reached me, I called for a Zoom meeting with my folks, we spoke and that particular aircraft was grounded. The grounding was to ensure it is safe to resume normal passenger operations because when the fuel enters the tanks, it goes through the engines, and it can do damage to the fuel controlling it.

“We have started an investigation and we have identified three aviation fuel companies that they took fuel from that day. We will mete out sanctions where necessary. We are going to hold a meeting with the regulatory commission in order to ensure compliance with standards,” he added.

He revealed that two fuel companies had, some time ago, been banned from supplying fuel to aircraft in Abuja over contamination and non-compliance with standards.

While maintaining that it was also the responsibility of the airline and the Captain in command, he said to check the fuel before taking off from a particular airport.

Nuhu added “All these are in the manuals. It is the responsibility of the captain, NCAA staff can’t be at all fuel stations, we don’t have enough staff to go into all stations, it is the responsibility of the airline.

“The aircraft involved was grounded immediately pending investigation, we acted immediately after it happened, and the crew were interrogated the following day, there are so many things that happened that are not made public, I am only supposed to speak when we have concluded and have affirmative action”

The NCAA had suspended, with immediate effect, the parts A3 and D43 in the Operations Specifications of the Boeing B737 Aircraft type in the fleet of Max Air Limited.

A statement signed by Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, noted that its action is based on several occurrences that involved the Boeing B737 aircraft type listed as follows: Loss of number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBO, which occurred between take-off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State, and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, May 7, 2023.

Others are fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, registration marks 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shut down on ground Yola Airport on July 7, 2023; aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on July 11, 2023; and an air return by aircraft B737-300, registration marks 5N-MHM, to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on July 11, 2023.

Earlier, Gentechnews reported that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Wednesday, suspended with immediate effect all Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of indigenous airline operator, Max Air.