April 23, (THEWILL) – A few hours after a Dana Air aircraft carrying 83 passengers and 6 crew members suffered a runway excursion at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reiterated its avowed commitment to a safe and secure aviation sector.
The agency assured that it will be looking to implement the safety recommendations expected from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) investigation while it carries out its own in-house safety assessment of the occurrence.
The Acting Director General, NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, gave the assurance on Tuesday, in an official statement issued shortly after the Dana Air incident, adding that the travelling public is assured of NCAA’s unrelenting efforts in holding all operators and service providers in the sector to the highest international safety standards.
Capt. Najomo said, “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority wishes to inform the public that on 23rd April 2024, at about 08:25, a Dana Airline aircraft was involved in a runway excursion occurrence. The Aircraft, an MD82 with registration marks 5SN-BKI, departed Abuja for Lagos with 83 passengers and 6 crew members onboard.
“Upon landing at MMIA, the Air Transport Controller [ATC] Tower observed at C4 that the Nosewheel had retracted and the nose of the aircraft collapsed and the aircraft veered off the runway into the grassy area. Very importantly, all passengers and crew disembarked and were evacuated safely while Runway 18L was closed.”
In accordance with statutory procedures, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into the occurrence.
According to the NSIB, preliminary fact-finding revealed that Dana Air flight 9J0352 (registration number 5N-BKI) carrying 83 passengers and 6 crew members departed Abuja at 8:20 AM local time and arrived in Lagos around 9:20 AM.
Commenting, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, said, “It had been raining, and the runway 18L surface was wet. The aircraft had a technical problem with its landing gear and experienced directional control problems after landing, which made it veer off the runway to the left and travel onto the grassy area near the Runway 18L link 6 turn-off point. Thankfully, there are no reported fatalities or injuries. As a precautionary measure, Runway 18L at MMA was temporarily closed following the incident.
“We have commenced an investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the runway excursion event involving Dana Airline MD-82 aircraft with registration marking 5N-BKI. A go-team has been dispatched to the incident scene and has begun inquiries. We will leave no stone unturned in examining all aspects surrounding the incident.
“The investigation team has retrieved the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, which will be taken to our lab for data download. The transcript from Air Traffic Control and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will also be included for forensic analysis and further investigation.
“The NSIB team has also measured the aircraft’s veering point from the runway to its final stop on the grass. Crew members have been interviewed and undergone toxicology tests. As of today, all stakeholders involved in the operation of this aircraft, including the manufacturer, are being notified for their comments to be included in our report.”
Meanwhile, Dana Air has extended its apologies to all passengers affected by the recent schedule disruption resulting from the runway excursion.
The airline, in a statement, said, “We understand the frustration and inconvenience experienced by passengers whose travel plans were disrupted due to the incident and we are deeply sorry.
“Our remaining flights for the day have all been retimed and all the passengers on these flights have been updated via email, SMS and calls. We wish to also reassure affected passengers that we are working diligently to minimise disruption and accommodate their travel needs.
“We commend the experience, professionalism and swift response demonstrated by our crew in handling the runway excursion incident. Their quick thinking, adherence to safety strict standards, and effective communication ensured the safe disembarkation of all passengers without injury. We are immensely proud of their commitment to passenger safety.
“We wish to also appreciate our customers for their support, loyalty and understanding at this time. This is priceless and we are grateful.
“At Dana Air, safety and service excellence are core values that guide everything we do. While we deeply regret the incident and its impact on our passengers, we remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the highest safety standards and providing exceptional service to our customers.”
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
