*The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority revokes the air operator certificates of Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited and Omni-Blu Aviation over frauds, explaining measure is part of efforts to ‘further sanitise the aviation industry’ in the country

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Friday, January 31, 2025, revoked the air operator certificates of Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited and Omni-Blu Aviation for committing frauds in contravention of aviation regulations.

NCAA, which disclosed this development via its verified X account, said the measure was part of regulatory efforts to 鈥渇urther sanitise the aviation industry” in the West African country.

The aviation regulatory agency also stated: “The Authority has determined that both Omni-Blu Aviation and Eastwind Aviation are in violation of Part 1.2.1.5 of Nig. CARs on Falsification, Reproduction, or Alteration of Applications, Licences, Certificates, Logbooks, Reports, or Records.

鈥淧art 1.2.1.5(b) of Nig. CARs provide the sanction for such fraud as revocation of the certificate.”

It also asserted: “Consequently, their respective Air Operator Certificates OBA/AOC/12-15/002 and EAL/AOC/03-24/001 are hereby revoked.鈥�

In October, a helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation crash-landed in the Atlantic Ocean, report said.

It is noted that the crashed copter was carrying eight persons with one surviving.

It is also recalled that Max Air suspended its operations for three months after the firm鈥檚 aircraft crash-landed at the Malam Aminu International Airport, Kano, in Northern Nigeria.

The affected aircraft lost its landing gear tyre during landing, which led to the incident.

The indigenous airline, nonetheless, said the development was properly managed with crew members and passengers safely evacuated, and there were no injuries.

The aviation regulatory agency further said the suspension of Max Air鈥檚 flight operations would afford the airline to appraise its internal operations and make amends where necessary.