The Federal Government of Nigeria has suspended the operating license of local carrier, Dana Air.
A source in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development told FACTSHEET on Wednesday that the decision of the government was based on “several complaints from passengers and aviation experts” over perceived port safety records of the airline.
The source who pleaded anonymity because they are not authorized to speak for the ministry, said that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo has already received technical briefs from some senior aviation industry officials.
FACTSHEET reported that an air craft belonging to the airline with registration number 5N BKI skidded off the runway in Lagos on Tuesday morning.
Reacting to the incident through a statement, the Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Chris Najomo, revealed that the nosewheel of the aircraft retracted which led to the aircraft veering off the runway into the grassy area.
The statement read:
“NCAA wishes to inform the public that on 23rd April, 2024 at about 08:25, a Dana Airline aircraft was involved in a runway excursion occurrence. The Aircraft, an MD82 with registration marks 5SN-BKI, departed Abuja for Lagos with 83 passengers and six crew members onboard.
“Upon landing at MMIA, the Air Transport Controller [ATC] Tower observed at C4 that the Nosewheel had retracted and the nose of the aircraft collapsed and the aircraft veered off the runway into the grassy area
“Very importantly, all passengers and crew disembarked and were evacuated safely while Runway 18L was closed. In accordance with statutory procedures, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced its investigation into the occurrence.
“The NCAA reiterates its avowed commitment to a safe and secure aviation sector. In furtherance to this commitment, the Authority will be looking to implement the safety recommendations expected from the NSIB investigation while it carries out its own in-house safety assessment of the occurrence. The travelling public is hereby assured of NCAA’s unrelenting efforts in holding all operators and service providers in the sector to the highest international safety standards.” Najomo stated.
The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has since commenced investigation into the incident.
Recall that on July 20, 2022 the NCAA also grounded the airline citing safety and financial infractions The NCAA then said that the suspension was made in line with Section 35(2), 3(b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), 2015.
On June 3, 2012, Dana Air Flight 0992 with 153 passengers crashed into buildings in Lagos killing all passengers and crew and also killed six others on the ground. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft lost two engines before crashing. Investigations concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error.