Azman air faces sanction over alleged sale of aircraft to Iranian airline
Azman Air, a domestic airline in Nigeria, may be facing sanctions due to allegations of smuggling two Nigerian-registered aircraft to Mahan Air.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to reach out to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CAA.IRI) to verify the status of the two aircraft involved.
The aircraft in question are an Airbus A340-600, registered as 5N-AAM, and a Boeing 737-300, registered as 5N-YSM. Reports indicate that these aircraft were sold without the NCAA’s prior knowledge, constituting a violation of international sanctions against Iran. Currently, the planes are located at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) and Mehrabad Airport (THR) in Tehran, Iran.
READ ALSO: Federal High Court stops sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines
A report from the Middle East Forum noted that Mahan Air, Iran’s largest airline, allegedly facilitated the delivery of the Airbus A340-642 from Azman Air on November 15, 2024. According to the same report, the aircraft was en route from Kano to Kabul when the crew disabled the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponder while flying at 39,000 feet after entering Iranian airspace. Despite this action, the aircraft ultimately landed safely at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
It’s important to recall that the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Iran, restricting aircraft dealings with the nation.
The report said, “The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and many Iranian officials due to their support for terrorism, though since the Biden administration entered office in 2021, the Iranian regime has implemented measures to circumvent sanctions.”
Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, in an interview stated that the regulatory agency would write the Iranian CAA for clarity on the status of the two aircraft.
Azman Air has suspended operation since March 2023 while its entire staff was furloughed.
The company later commenced operations in 2024 but several media reported in August this year that it had suspended operations again.
Azman Air commenced scheduled operations in 2014 with two Boeing 737 aircraft, which grew to seven at its peak but later decreased to just four.
According to Abdulmunafi, it is inaccurate for media reports to state that the airline has indefinitely suspended operations.
He said: “We are currently finalising the maintenance of two of our aircraft, and we anticipate resuming our full flight operations very soon.”
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