We’ll determine Dana Air’s fate after investigation – NCAA

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it will determine the fate of Dana Airline after the conclusion of an investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Daily Trust had reported that Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo, had directed the NCAA to suspend Dana Airlines, saying recent events of the local carrier raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations. 

The suspension of Dana Air was enforced  24 hours after one of the airline’s planes skidded off the runway at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the acting Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the airline is currently under investigation by the NSIB.

Represented by the Director, Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, he said “The Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Airline remains suspended pending the conclusion of investigation by the NSIB which is the agency responsible and afterwards, the NCAA will now decide what happens next.”

 He also clarified that “The minister did not suspend Dana Air directly as widely reported as the acting  DG and directors had concluded after the incident to suspend the airline when the letter by the minister came in which was just a coincidence.”

On prompt resolution of complaints by the agency, Achimugu said “The consumer protection department has always recorded about 65 per cent resolution on complaints ranging from missing baggage to flight delays and cancellations which the public is not aware of.”

 He however noted that not every circumstance of flight delay was being sanctioned as it had to be weighed and done within the ambit of the law. 

He further maintained that the NCAA will continue to sanction airlines when necessary, adding that the agency had scheduled meetings with local airlines for next week in Lagos as part of efforts to avert infractions in aviation safety.