The management of Dana Air has temporarily disengaged some of its staff, following the ongoing operational audit initiated by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), after one of its aircraft suffered a runway excursion last month.
According to the airline, the decision was made to ensure efficient management of resources, pending the conclusion of the audit by the regulatory authority.
The Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Ezenwa made the disclosure in a statement made available to Thelensng on Saturday.
Recall that on April 23, 2024, a Dana aircraft, an MD82 with registration number 5N BKI, flying from Abuja to Lagos with 83 passengers and 6 crew members onboard skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
The statement read in part: “In light of the ongoing audit, Dana Air has made the decision to temporarily disengage some staff members pending the conclusion of the audit.
“This decision has been made to ensure efficient management of resources and to facilitate a thorough review of operational procedures.
“The Management of Dana Air extends its sincere appreciation to all staff members for their resilience and dedication during this period of uncertainty. It recognizes the difficulties that staff have had to endure and assures them that every effort is being made to resolve the situation promptly.
“Dana Air remains committed to providing updates and support to its staff throughout this process and while these challenges are being addressed, Dana Air has commenced talks with lessors and are currently engaging stakeholders on the progress made so far.
“Dana Air therefore urges for calm and understanding from our very dedicated staff for their altruism and stakeholders”.
The statement added the management is working diligently to address any concerns and is preparing a restart plan that will ensure the safe and efficient resumption of operations.
The airline expressed confidence that with the continued support of its staff and stakeholders, it will overcome these challenges and emerge stronger than ever.
Commenting on the audit which is currently underway, Ezenwa said it is a collaborative effort between Dana Air and the authorities to ensure compliance with all necessary standards and regulations.
He reaffirmed Dana Air’s commitment to full cooperation with the authorities to facilitate a smooth and expedited resolution of the audit process.
