Dana Airline Suspended Again

 

An air travel agency has been re-suspended six months after it was allowed to restart operations following a crash of one of its air crafts in June 2012 that resulted in the death of 153 passengers and 10 others on ground, the airline said on Sunday.

Dana Air said in a statement it did not know the reason for the suspension by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In June, Dana Air flight 992, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, crashed into an apartment block in a populated Lagos suburb, killing 153 people on board and 10 others on the ground.

Dana was suspended, but was allowed to start flights again in September, despite an inquiry into the cause of the crash not yet being complete.

President Goodluck Jonathan sacked the Director General of the NCAA last week and has proposed Captain Fola Akinkuotu as replacement to the Senate.

A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, Dana Air, Mr. Tony Usidamen, said, “We regret to announce the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday, March 16, 2013; no specific reason was given for the action.

“A meeting is, however, scheduled between the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA on Monday, March 18, and we will update you as we get more information. We thank you for your patience and understanding, and we look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you on board again shortly.”

The Senate Committee on Aviation had a few months ago recommended that the Federal Government should revoke the operating licence of Dana Air, saying it was not issued in line with standard safety procedures.

The committee also recommended the removal of the former DG of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren.