Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria, FLIDAN, has called for prompt review of the suspension of Dana Air operations, saying the decision was too hasty.

FLIDAN in a statement signed by
Victoria J Adegbe, the Secretary General, noted that following the event that occurred on the 23rd of April, 2024 involving a Dana Airlines flight 9J0352 departing Abuja to Lagos in which had an incidence of a runway excursion at Lagos runway 18L/36R, observed that
the Pilot in Command, PIC, had to do a go-around when he discovered that the landing gear of the MD 82 aircraft was down but not locked.

According to FLIDAN, “he then landed the aircraft with the nose wheel coming to rest in the soft grass and there were no casualties.
Evacuation was promptly carried out by the cabin crew in record time.
The AIS NOF promptly issued a NOTAM closing the runway 18L/36R.
The TOWER managed all traffic diverted to second runway 18R/36L.
Even though the NOTAM stated that runway 18L/36R would be closed for 24hours, FAAN and NCAA expedited the removal of the aircraft and the runway was opened before midnight of 23rd of April.
If the Nose-wheel issue was detected before the aircraft went airborne, it would be handled as an MEL/CDL item and operations would never have released the aircraft, so it could only have come up when airborne. The pilot hence handled as per procedures for abnormal conditions and should be highly commended”.

The body observed that: Abnormal conditions are prepared for by the manufacturer and operations is quite trained to handle such. Take for instance, flight dispatchers plan for engine failure for all phases of flight.

Take the bird strike issue of US airways Flight 1549 of January 15th, 2009 which went down on the Hudson River in New York. The Airbus A320 with 155 passengers and crew lost two engines on take off from LaGuardia Airport, New York and Capt Sullenberger had seconds to decide to land in the Hudson. The surprising thing was that the aviation authorities made him to face a panel rather than applaud his efforts. He was able to prove that the simulated flights carried out by pilots to prove he could have landed on the runway rather than on the Hudson took several tries but he had only one trial. This Dana Air should be commended, the body explained.

Adegbe pointed out that ensuring Continued Airworthiness of an Aircraft is the Sole Responsibility of NCAA and not the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace and as long as an Airline (AOC holder) can demonstrate that the aircraft is airworthy then it continues to fly, hence, suspending the entire operations of an AOC holder is quite punitive.