Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has just given the order for the suspension of Dana Air operations.
This directive is coming after the incident involving a Dana Air plane at Lagos airport on Tuesday, April 23, which forced aviation authorities to reroute flights from local to international airport.
Keyamo, had directed the acting director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, to suspend the operations of Dana Airline for a comprehensive audit.
Recall that a Dana Airline’s McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft was involved in a runway excursion at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Tuesday in Lagos State.
The incident had occurred around past 9am local time, prompting the shutdown of the runway where the episode happened.
But, in a letter dated April 24, 2024 with reference number, PS/FMA/MA/S.121/VOL.1/99, titled, ‘Immediate Suspension Of Dana Airlines Pending Safety And Financial Health Audit’, and signed by the permanent secretary, ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, the minister remarked that recent incidents involving DANA AIRLINE had now raised grave concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of the airlines’ operations.
The minister also revealed that the audit of the airline should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with aviation regulations.
