Dana Air temporarily disengages staff amid NCAA probe

Dana Air says it has temporarily suspended some staff members.

Kingsley Ezenwa, head of corporate communications of Dana Air, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

The development comes a few weeks after the airline was suspended by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

On April 23, a Dana Air aircraft had veered off the runway at the domestic Lagos airport wing, forcing aviation authorities to divert flights from the local airport to the international terminal.

Following the incident, Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation, directed the (NCAA) to suspend the operations of Dana Air and began investigations.

Ezenwa, in the statement, said the airline’s decision was due to the ongoing audit by the authorities.

“Dana Air has made the decision to temporarily disengage some staff members pending the conclusion of the audit,” the statement reads.

“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.

“We remain 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 airline also said it is working diligently to address any concerns and is preparing a “restart plan” that will ensure the safe and efficient resumption of operations.