The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has suspended the Air Operator Certificate, AOC, of Dana Airline.
The suspension takes effect from Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
The suspension is contained in a letter by NCAA to the management of Dana Air.
Signed by its Acting Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, on Wednesday in Lagos, the NCAA in the letter said its action was in accordance with Sec 31 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022.
The suspension was said to be in connection with the runway excursion involving a Dana aircraft MD-82, with registration number 5N BKI on Tuesday.
The NCAA said it was awaiting the preliminary report of the investigation launched by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, over the matter.
It stated further: “While the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an inhouse 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 travellers.
“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 AOC with effect from April 24 at 23.59 p.m. to allow for a thorough safety and economic audit.”
The safety audit, the NCAA said, would entail a re-inspection of the organisation, procedures, personnel and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
It stated that the economic audit would critically examine the financial health of the airline in order to be sure of its capability to sustain safe flight operations.
