The Nigerian Government has ordered a full audit of Dana Air (9J, Lagos) following a series of operational mishaps at the airline last month.
On February 7, an emergency exit on one of Dana Air's four MD-83s opened while the aircraft was taxiing to the terminal at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The airline subsequently blamed the incident on a passenger's actions. Then on February 20, another Dana Air MD-83 overshot the runway on rollout at Port Harcourt Awolowo during torrential rain. Although the aircraft, 5N-SRI (msn 53020), sustained significant damage, none of the 44 passengers and six crew members on board was injured.
As such, the Federal Government has now ordered a comprehensive review of the airline's operations following a report from Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
Dana Air Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, has since said the carrier welcomes the audit and will fully cooperate with the auditors.
"We ... welcome the recent audit ordered by the Federal Government and we are willing to work with the team and the FG to demonstrate our commitment not just to flying but to flying safe," he said in a statement. "We wish to thank the honourable minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, who has proven himself as a technocrat, and our esteemed guests for keeping faith with us while the incident was under investigation and we wish to reassure our guests of our commitment towards providing safe, reliable and affordable air transport."
Dana Air added that its planned interline as well as wet-lease agreement with ASKY Airlines (KP, Lomé) involving one B737-700, will still go-ahead as planned despite the audit.
