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Why Nigeria suspended DANA Air operations

The Federal Government yesterday listed the urgency of a comprehensive safety,  technical and financial health audit as part of the reasons it ordered the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to suspend the flight operations of DANA Air .

The suspension of the airline, it was learnt came  on the heels of Tuesday's runway excursion of one the airline's MD 82 aircraft with 83 passengers and six crew members which veered off the runway into grassy areas of the Lagos Airport Runway.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo in a letter to NCAA directed the regulator to immediately suspend the operations of the airline because of recent incidents involving DANA Air , which he said have raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations.

In a letter signed on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, Keyamo said : “As the supervisor overseeing our nation’s aviation safety and regulatory compliance, it has come to the minister’s attention that recent incidents involving the airline  have raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations.

“In the light of these incidents and with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of our citizens and travellers, you are directed to immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Air’s fleet until a comprehensive audit can be conducted."

The audit, Keyamo said should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with all aviation regulations.

He went on: “The recent incidents have underscored the urgency of this matter, and it is imperative that swift and decisive action be taken to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders involved.

"I trust in your expertise and diligence in carrying out this audit thoroughly and expeditiously. Please keep me informed of the progress and any significant findings throughout the process."

Tuesday's incident involving DANA Air aircraft led to the closure of the runway at the Lagos Airport.

Though the NCAA and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (ÑSIB) are currently probing the incident, the government's suspension of the airline, has , however sparked reactions among industry players.

Many industry players observed that the Ministry of Aviation should have allowed NCAA and NSIB to complete their assignment before slamming the carrier.

DANA Air, had on Tuesday already grounded the aircraft to enable its maintenance team carry out full investigations.

Speaking on the matter, safety advocate and Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Security Limited, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) warned that the minister is climbing the aviation tree beyond its top leaves.

“Let those who are close to him tell him that he has no such powers and the international aviation community particularly ICAO is watching us and in particular the NCAA.

"I said it earlier that he has taken over not only as the Minister but more as the CEO of all the agencies. The reports of the responsible agencies are yet to be out and he has already found the airline negligent. How? He has made both the NCAA and NISB irrelevant. This is another institutional corruption brewing out from the aviation industry."

The NSIB on Tuesday, as part of its preliminary findings noted that the aircraft had a technical problem.

It observed that the technical problem affected the  landing gear, which experienced directional control problems after touching down  which made it veer off the runway to the left and travel onto the grassy area near the Runway 18L link 6 turn-off point.

The NSIB in a statement said: "We have commenced an investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the runway excursion event involving Dana Airline MD-82 aircraft with registration marking 5N-BKI.

"A go-team has been dispatched to the incident scene and has begun inquiries. We will leave no stone unturned in examining all aspects surrounding the incident.

"The investigation team has retrieved the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, which will be taken to our lab for data download.

"The transcript from Air Traffic Control and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will also be included for forensic analysis and further investigation.

"The NSIB team has also measured the aircraft's veering point from the runway to its final stop on the grass. Crew members have been interviewed and undergone toxicology tests. As of today, all stakeholders involved in the operation of this aircraft, including the manufacturer, are being notified for their comments to be included in our report.

"The NSIB's investigation of this incident will examine all aspects, including the airworthiness status of the aircraft, operational policies, human factors, weather condition, health and mental status of the crew, aircraft maintenance records, and any previous incidents involving this aircraft's landing gear system.

"In accordance with international aviation safety protocols, a preliminary report containing a summary of basic fact-finding about the incident will be released within 30 days.

"A final report with safety recommendations will be issued at the conclusion of the investigation."

On July 19, 2022 a Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of DANA Air had an emergency landing at the Abuja Airport.

The airline said the aircraft was grounded for immediate attention for its engineers.

The airline said the incident was due to an indication on one of its engines.