FG grounds Dana Air flights over safety concerns

By Emmanuel Obisue

Federal Government has suspended operations of Dana Air, citing safety concerns after a recent runway incident involving one of its aircraft.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo issued a directive to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA on Wednesday to immediately halt Dana Air’s flights.

The move prioritizes the safety of passengers and travelers, according to a statement from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

“A comprehensive audit encompassing safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health is necessary,” the aviation ministry emphasized.

They aim to ensure Dana Air fully complies with all aviation regulations before resuming operations.

The suspension follows an incident at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, in Lagos, where a Dana Air aircraft veered off the runway.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, is currently investigating the incident involving flight 9J0352.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-82, with registration number 5N-BKI, carried 83 passengers and 6 crew members on its journey from Abuja to Lagos.

Nigeria has experienced several runway slip incidents, which raise concerns about aviation safety.

These incidents can be attributed to various factors, including runway contamination, adverse weather conditions, mechanical failure, and human error.

While it’s essential to investigate each incident thoroughly, the frequency of such events suggests a need for heightened attention to runway maintenance, pilot training, and overall aviation infrastructure.

12 years ago, on June 3, 2012, a Dana Air Flight 0992 crashed while approaching the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria.

The aircraft, a 12-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-83, registered in Nigeria as 5N-RAM, crashed into buildings killing all 153 passengers and crew, and six people on the site of the crash.

The ill-fated aircraft which suffered dual engine failure was Nigeria’s worst aviation disaster since an Alia Royal Jordanian Airlines Boeing 707 that crashed in Kano in 1973, killing 176 passengers and crew.