FG’s ultimatum to Dana Airline

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The Federal Government’s recent intervention meant to fast-track the payment of claims to the families left behind by victims of Dana Airline’s June 3, 2012 plane crash in Iju, Lagos, is yet another reminder of the tragic air mishap that claimed the lives of 153 passengers and crew members and many others on ground. More than a year after the fatal incident, however, many of the families of the victims are yet to be compensated.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, indicated last week that the airline had paid up to 60 percent of the claims, but that the delay being experienced by Dana Airline’s management in concluding the settlement was due to double claims that needed to be clarified. She said the airline had up to six months (between now and December this year) to complete the payment of compensation to all affected families or face sanctions. The aviation ministry had at the first anniversary of the tragic air mishap and unveiling of the memorial cenotaph built to immortalise the dead in Lagos early last month, announced that the FG was working with the airline’s management to ensure that all compensation disagreements were amicably resolved.

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Dana Air To Resume Operations

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The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah on Monday said that the suspension place on Dana airline operation has been lifted and that the company can resume flights immediately.

In a statement released by her Special Assistant on Media, Joe Obi, the Minister said the decision to lift the suspension of Dana operation was taken after a meeting between the management of the airline and federal aviation authority.

N’Assembly’s report on Dana crash may threaten US-Nigeria link

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Implementation of the National Assembly’s recommendations on the Dana Air crash by the Federal Government may adversely affect Nigeria’s direct flight link with the United States of America, TUNJI ABIOYE writes

The United States of America may take a second look at its direct flight link with Nigeria if the Federal Government goes ahead to implement the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Aviation Committee’s report on the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash, investigations by our correspondent have revealed.

The US Federal Aviation Administration’s Category One status, an approval for Nigerian-registered airplanes to operate commercial flights to America, was awarded the country in 2008 after a rigorous audit that lasted for many years.

Prior to the award, Nigeria had lost the coveted status for about 15 years, thereby making direct flights between it and US impossible.

Human error caused Dana crash.. Pilot is To Be Blamed

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he Dana plane crash that killed all 153 people aboard in Lagos in June 2012 was likely caused by a pilot’s failure to turn on certain fuel pumps or valves, The Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the joint investigation by U.S. and Nigerian officials.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-83, operated by Nigeria’s Dana Air, lost power from both engines while approaching the airport in Lagos last June and slammed into an apartment building, killing at least six more people on the ground.

The most likely cause of the accident was the crew’s failure to properly monitor fuel flow and turn on certain fuel pumps, according to industry and government safety experts familiar with the investigation.

Compensation: Victims, groups protest at Dana office

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Human rights activists from Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and other groups on Wednesday protested  alleged insensitivity of Dana Airlines Limited.

The protest was at the instance of Pastor Daniel Omowumi, who allegedly lost over N500m to Dana crash of June 3, 2012. He was also joined by other victims of the crash that are yet to be compensated by the airline.

 The protesters, led by the National Coordinator, CHRN, Mr. Declan Ihekaire, began procession from Funmilayo Bus Stop, Ipaja Road, Lagos, and headed for Dana office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, singing solidarity songs and carrying placards.

‘Bodies of Dana Pilots Lost In Crash inferno’

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The bodies of the two pilots of Dana Air’s MD-83 plane which crashed in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State on June 3, 2012 were not found as they might have been completely incinerated by the post-crash inferno. The Chief Medical Examiner and Consultant Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Obafunwa, said this in his testimony at a Lagos State coroner court sitting in Ikeja on Friday.

The American pilot, Mr. Peter Waxtan, 55, and his Indian co-pilot, Mr. Mahendra Rathore, 34, were among the six crew members of the plane; 147 passengers and uncertain number of others on the ground, who were killed in the crash.

Air fares may crash by 33% as Dana, others Return

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Indications have emerged that soaring domestic air fares may soon crash by 33 per cent from the present average of N30,000 per hour flight to N20,000 following the return of some local airlines to business. Dana Air, which stopped operations seven months ago after the tragic crash of June 3, 2012, resumed operations on Friday with fare as low as N14,400 for a Lagos-Abuja flight. The airline offered N11,000 fare for passengers who booked online.

Crashed Dana Plane Ran Out Of Fuel – Pilot (Video)

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A pilot and aviation expert, Benson Ikponwosa on Monday said the only plausible explanation to the recent Dana plane crash could be shortage of fuel. Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Ikponwosa said a plane that left Abuja with its two engines intact could not have lost both engines if aircraft had adequate supply of fuel. A Dana Airline plane, flight MD83 had in June crashed into two buildings at the Agege area of Lagos State killing all 153 passengers and crew on aboard.