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Nigeria's Ministry of Aviation has ordered the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to suspend Dana Air's operations following a recent runway slip in Lagos that raised concerns about the airline's safety and financial viability, the agency said in a statement.
The agency confirmed that on April 23, Dana Air's sole MD-82 aircraft, registered 5N-BKI, veered off the runway while landing in Lagos. It said that "the nose wheel was retracted, the nose of the aircraft collapsed and the aircraft veered off the runway into the grassy area." All passengers and crew members remained uninjured.
In an April 24 letter to the NCAA, seen by The Cable newspaper, the Aviation Ministry said: "The Honorable Minister has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Air's fleet pending a comprehensive review can be. This review should cover all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures and financial health to ensure full compliance with our aviation regulations.”
This was confirmed by the NCAA's statement, which stated that the suspension of Dana Air's operating license and AOC will take effect at 24:23 p.m. local time on April 59 and is a "precautionary measure" to ensure "comprehensive safety and security measures." Audit”. This would include a reinspection of the company's operations, procedures, personnel and aircraft, while the economic audit examines the airline's financial health to ensure its ability to maintain safe flight operations.
The agency announced that the Nigeria Security Investigations Bureau (NSIB) had begun investigating the incident. The NCAA will implement security recommendations resulting from the investigation while it conducts its own internal security assessment of the incident. Aside from the MD-82, Dana Air's fleet includes three MD-83s and two B737-300s, according to data from ch-aviation.
Dana Air – an operator with a certain history
Dana Air has struggled with safety concerns in the past. In July 2022, its operating license (ATL) and air operator certificate (AOC) were indefinitely suspended by regulators due to financial and safety concerns. Operations resumed on November 8, 2022, but the fleet of six aircraft was decommissioned in February 2023 due to maintenance issues, resulting in a halt in business operations until an aircraft was released for service on March 16 this year.
The McDonnell MD-82 and its safety record
The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, which includes the MD-82, has a mixed safety record. Although the MD-80 series has been in service since the 1980s and has provided reliable service, there have been some incidents and accidents in the past. Some of these incidents have been attributed to maintenance issues, aging fleets and human error. Despite this, many of the safety issues have been addressed and the aircraft in this series continue to have a comparatively good safety record.
Aviation safety in Nigeria and its problems
Aviation safety in Nigeria is often in focus as the country has faced a number of plane crashes and safety-related incidents in the past. Some of the main problems are inadequate maintenance standards, lack of oversight by regulators, fleet aging and training deficiencies. However, Nigerian authorities have taken measures to improve aviation safety in recent years, including revising regulations, training staff and modernizing infrastructure.
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