The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Airlines with effect from Wednesday, 24th April, 2924.
The suspension followed a directive from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN).
The suspension letter signed by the Acting Director General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria, Captain Chris Najomo said the action was based on elevated safety concerns posed by the airline.
Recall Dana was suspended by NCAA by four months in 2022 for multiple regulatory infractions.
On Tuesday, Dana Air aircraft has a serious runway incursion that sent panic across the industry.
The NCAA circular suspending Dana Air read: After “the runway incursion involving your MD-82 aircraft with registration marks 5N-BKI at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on 23 April 2024, the Authority is awaiting the preliminary report of the investigation launched by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).”
“While the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an in-house compliance assessment of this occurrence taking into account previous occurrences involving DANA Air aircraft. This is in a bid to establish any trend which must be nipped in the bud in the interest of the safety and well-being of our citizens and travelers.”
“Furthermore, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in sharing the concerns of the Authority has thrown his weight behind the need for swift measures to be taken to address pertinent safety and economic issues that may underpin some of these occurrences. As & precautionary step, and in accordance with Sec 31 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the Authority has imposed a suspension on your Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with effect from 24″ April, 2024 at 23:59 to allow for a thorough safety and economic audit.”
“The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of your organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of your airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations” it concluded.
