Dana Airline, yesterday, explained that their aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas (MD83) aircraft with registration number 5N-RAM, despite being 22 years old was still serviceable and operational.
Speaking in Lagos, Director of Flight Operations, Captain Oscar Wilson; Director of Ground Operations, Amos Olajide and Communication Manager, Tony Usidamen explained the airline’s position, stating that the aircraft was in good condition.
Wreckage of Dana Airline which crashed in Iju Isaga on Sunday.
But reports from aviation officials and stakeholders indicate that the aircraft in question had technical problems recently in flights to Uyo, Port-Harcourt, Calabar and Abuja. This plane was, according to reports, supposed to be brought to Lagos empty but the DANA officials insisted on carrying passengers.
But Captain Wilson, Director of Flight Operations of DANA who explained the airline’s schedule the day it crashed said the aircraft had flown to Ibadan on Saturday without hitches contrary to rumours that it was undergoing repairs. He said that Sunday was a different story entirely as the aircraft had started operations as early as 7.47 a.m
He said: “On Sunday, 5N-RAM flew at 7.47am left Lagos to Abuja on flight 999 and Abuja back to Lagos on Flight 998. The aircraft went back to Abuja flight 993 and was coming back before the fatal flight 992.No aircraft would go if not in perfect condition. We don’t take risks with people’s lives. I did the test flight myself, there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, it was okay.”
It is now left for government to establish the veracity of these claims and counter claims as the contentious aircraft on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 3:43pm local time, on flight 0992 from Abuja to Lagos declared an emergency with the Lagos control tower at 11 nautical miles to Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
A minute later the aircraft disappeared from the Air Traffic Control radar. The flight was found to have crashed into residential buildings at Iju area of Agege with 146 passengers on board, 1 Dana Air flight Engineer, 2 Pilots and 4 Cabin crew. There was no survivor.
SOURCE: Vanguard Nigeria
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