The President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Yinka Folami, has expressed concern over the recent near-crash incidents in the aviation industry.

He urged stakeholders particularly the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and airline operators to come together and address all safety concerns for the sake of the traveling public.

Yinka, in a statement, noted that the safety of the operational ecosystem must be prioritised for the sake of the traveling passengers.

On January 28, 2025, the NCAA announced the suspension of Max Air barely 24 hours after an aircraft belonging to the airline was involved in a serious incident at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The regulatory body also immediately commenced organisational risk audit for airlines operating in Nigeria, including Max Air.

The incident led to the damage of the aircraft nose wheel and a tyre burst and was the airline’s third incident within three months.

NANTA advised that all hands must be activated to restore confidence in air travel.

Folami said, “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 cannot pretend that we are not concerned.”

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]