Nigerian President Good-luck Jonathan has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of one of the country’s deadliest aviation crashes on 3 June in Lagos.
All 153 people on board and countless numbers on the ground were killed when the Indian-owned McDonnell Douglas MD-83 crashed into business and residential buildings in Iju, a busy suburb near the airport. Unconfirmed reports said the pilot reported serious problems with the plane’s engines before it grounded.
The Dana Airlines craft had been flying from the Nigerian capital Abuja to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the biggest transport hub in west Africa.
Some of the dead on the tragic flight included Prof Celestine Onwuliri, former vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (Futo) and husband to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Viola Onwuliri, former broadcaster and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) general manager for corporate affairs Dr Levi Ajuonuma; and Ehime Aikhomu, son of former military vice president the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu.
Reports state that both the flight data and voice recorder were recovered and flown to the NTSB in the United States for a complete investigation.
President Jonathan, who declared three days of national mourning in the wake of the tragedy, also promised improvements to air safety following his visit with top members of his administration to the crash site.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) investigation into the incident is continuing. Spokesperson Sam Adurogboye said Nigerians should expect a thorough investigation into what led to the crash as well as a comprehensive systems check of all remaining Dana Airline planes, maintenance records and personnel.
He added that the airline’s “operational licence has been suspended until we carry out their recertification”.
However, a source who previously supplied plane parts to the airline expressed his surprise at the crash to Metro Éireann.
“They are one of the best in the industry,” said the man, who did not wish to be named, adding that the airline always made sure that the parts they bought for their planes were traceable.
Nigeria has a very poor airline safety record. This is the seventh major air crash in the country since 1992.
