FG suspends Dana Air over safety concerns

The Nigerian government has suspended Dana Air a day after one of its aircraft crash-landed in Lagos.

Nigeria’s aviation minister Festus Keyamo directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to implement the suspension on Dana Air over safety concerns.

“In light of these incidents and with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of our citizens and travelers, the Honourable Minister has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Airline’s fleet until a comprehensive audit can be conducted,” the ministry of aviation and aerospace development said in a letter to NCAA.

“This audit should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with our aviation regulations.”

The ministry said the recent incident makes it imperative to take decisive action to safeguard the interests of the stakeholders involved.

The suspension comes a day after one of the aircraft belonging to the airline was involved in a runway excursion at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced investigation of the incident involving the airline’s flight 9J0352 (registration number 5N-BKI) carrying 83 passengers and 6 crew members which departed Abuja at 8:20 AM local time and arrived in Lagos around 9:20 AM.