FG suspends Dana Air for safety reasons

One day after a Dana Air plane crashed in Lagos, the Nigerian government has suspended flight operations.

Nigerian Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo instructed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to implement the suspension for Dana Air on safety grounds.

“In light of these incidents, and because the safety and well-being of our citizens and travelers is our top priority, the Secretary has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Airlines’ fleet until a comprehensive investigation can be conducted,” the Department of Aerospace Development said in a letter to the NCAA.

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

The ministry said the recent incident made it imperative to take decisive action to protect the interests of all parties involved.

The suspension came a day after one of the airline’s aircraft skidded off the runway at Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

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