The captain landed the aircraft with the nose wheel resting on the soft grass. There were no casualties, and all passengers were safely evacuated
*** Barrister Festus Keyamo called upon to reverse the suspension placed on Dana Airline
*** A demand was sent to the Aviation Ministry to tender an apology to the entire Aviation community
for the punitive action against Dana Airlines
*** An appeal dispatched to Barrister Festus Keyamo, Aviation & Aerospace Development Minister to
“concentrate his efforts on policy issues that positively impact the airline industry”
*** The crew of Dana Airline flight 9J0352 that did an emergency landing at Lagos Airport on Tuesday,
23rd April 2024, deserves commendation and not condemnation
Clarion calls have been made severally, collectively, and in a very shrilling tone persuading Barrister Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, to rescind his decisions which were summarily executed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, as manifested in the suspension of Dana airlines sequel to the air incident at Lagos airport on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024.
The foremost air transport pressure group in Nigeria, the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, ASRTI, demanded in a manner not witnessed with the Round Table initiative in the past decade thus demanded, “an immediate lifting of the suspension placed on the entire operation of Dana Airlines”.
ASRTI in its statement signed by Olumide Ohunayo, its General Secretary, also demanded “an apology to the entire Aviation community for the actions from the HMA&AD and the Ministry”.
The poignant statement appealed to the Aviation & Aerospace Development Minister to live by his public vow when he pledged not to interfere with constituted technical authorities and allow “the NCAA / NSIB investigation continue on the affected MD 82 aircraft or fleet and the company Dana, for which the NCAA is expected to carry on its role and there-after dispense the appropriate actions”.
ASRTI in a reverential manner “also advises the HMA&AD to concentrate his efforts on policy issues that positively impact the airline industry”.
The aviation NGO also “demands that other agencies be allowed to carry out their statutory obligations without interference, including the observed interferences at FAAN”.
Also, ASRTI urged Barrister Keyamo “to move promptly to appoint the required Boards to enable the smooth and properly guided operations of the aviation Agencies”.
The NGO renowned for proffering solutions to aviation challenges in Nigeria commended the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, “for the recent suspension of three non-schedule operators for operational infractions”
However, ASRTI “urges the NCAA to make public, the list of the airlines concerned in the reported infractions for transparency as well as to highlight actions others must avoid to prevent the same outcomes”.
The statement thus enunciated, “ASRTI condemns the external interference demonstrated by the Minister’s directive which served to erode the institutional autonomy and jeopardize safety in the aviation sector”.
It stated inter-alia, “ASRTI reiterates its commitment to the non-negotiable autonomy of the NCAA as stated in Section 4 (3) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act”
To ascertain the financial health of airlines the statement volunteered, “The conduct of financial audits of airlines lies exclusively with the NCAA. The decisions on what are the appropriate sanctions for violations also lie with the NCAA exclusively”
DANA CREW DESERVES COMMENDATION NOT CONDEMNATION- FLIDAN
The flight crew of Dana Airline flight 9J0352 which departed Abuja to Lagos on the 23rd of April 2024, that experienced runway excursion at Lagos runway 18L/36R, deserved commendation and not condemnation.
A media statement by the Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria, FLIDAN, signed by its Secretary General, Victoria J. Adegbe, (Mrs) remarked.
The FLIDAN statement highlighted that when the cockpit crew discovered “the landing gear of the MD 82 aircraft was down but not locked, the Captain landed the aircraft with the nose wheel coming to rest in the soft grass and there were no casualties”.
The professional body however affirmed that when the pilot found the emergency landing inevitable “hence, handled as per procedures for abnormal conditions and should be highly commended”.
The statement also affirmed that “ensuring Continued Airworthiness of an Aircraft is the Sole Responsibility of NCAA and not the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
FLIDAN further elucidated thus, “as long as an Airline (AOC holder) can demonstrate that the aircraft is airworthy then it continues to fly hence, suspending the entire operations of an AOC holder is quite punitive”.
The statement concluded thus, “FLIDAN, therefore, submits that the suspension of Dana Air Operations was too hasty, punitive, and should… be promptly lifted and … the crew applauded”.
MINISTRY INTERVENTION IN AIR INCIDENT AN ABERRATION- PROF. ANTHONY KILA
Professor Anthony Kila on his official X handle, wrote to Festus Keyamo, that his calling for grounding Dana Airline and the subsequent actual grounding was very far from impressive.
Kila said the path of honour should have been to first conduct an investigation by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB.
After the safety recommendations by NSIB, he averred that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, should launch a full economic and technical audit of the airline.
Prof Kila however frowned at the aberration that now holds, writing that the interventions ought to have emanated from statutory aviation agencies and not the Ministry of Aviation & Aerospace Development.
Kila reiterated that interventions should come from related aviation agencies already headed by professionals in their own right, and not the ministry.
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