The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended Azman Air's Air Operator's Certificate on Friday, 25 June 2021, grounding the Kano-based carrier's fleet pending a full review of its safety and maintenance practices.
The regulator said the suspension followed a pattern of infractions uncovered during recent audits, including a runway excursion incident earlier in the year that damaged an aircraft but caused no fatalities. NCAA said repeated deficiencies in the airline's maintenance record-keeping had also weighed on the decision.
Airline Disputes the Findings
Azman Air said in a statement that it was cooperating fully with the NCAA and disputed the characterisation of some of the infractions cited, adding that it had already begun implementing corrective measures before the suspension was announced.
The NCAA said the airline's certificate would remain suspended until an audit team was satisfied that safety management deficiencies had been fully addressed, a process it estimated could take several weeks depending on the airline's response to its findings.
