Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Dana Air Donates Relief Materials to Crash Victims





In demonstration of their deepest sympathy to those affected by the ill-fated Dana flight J9 992, top management of Dana Air Limited on Friday, June 8, 2012 visited some of the displaced residents of Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, where the aircraft came down on Sunday, donating relief materials to them.
  
Also, a team of Counselors, Psychotherapists were deployed by the airline to assist and manage trauma, anxiety and associated ailments of families affected during the crash.

 
In his remark during the visit, Gautam Hathiramani , a Director at Dana Air, noted  that the airline operator appreciates the difficult  times presently being experienced by the affected families as a result of the crash, promising that Dana Air will not relent in ensuring support  to the displaced families.

He said that it became necessary to deploy the services of Counselors and Psychotherapists to the affected families to ensure that they are in stable conditions after the shock, and also help manage their trauma, anxieties and fear.

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The director said that all the displaced persons would be provided with temporary accommodation to suit their respective needs, whilst relief materials would be extended to them on continuous basis. “Our chairman and other senior management have been at the site to condole with the families of the victims. We would continue to visit and assist them where necessary to ensure that their needs are met until there very stable,” he said.

Reacting to the visit by management of Dana Air, the Community Development Authority (CDA) chairman, Iju-Ishaga, Mr. Onowo Adewole commended the management of Dana Air for the gesture, promising to ensure that the community cooperates with the airline in its bid to ensure that displaced people are adequately rehabilitated.

Also in her remark, one of the victims, Chinyere Okafor, who spoke on behalf of  all the victims of the crash, thanked Dana Air for coming to their aid, noting that though both the airline and the victims have suffered untold losses as a result of the crash, the steps so far taken by Dana Air shows its heartfelt concern for the affected people. 

Materials distributed include mattresses, food items, clothes, and kitchen utensils, among others.


Crash of DANA Air Flight 9J 992 on Sunday, June 3, 2012
It is with a very heavy heart that we, the Dana group family join friends, colleagues, relations, families and the entire Nigerian nation to mourn victims of the ill-fated Dana Air, flight 9J 992, with Registration Number 5N-RAM, from Abuja that crashed at Iju- Shaga, a Lagos suburb as the aircraft made to touch down at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, Lagos. The tragic loss of all the 146 passengers on board and the crew including; 1 Dana Air Flight Engineer, 2 Pilots and 4 Cabin Crew and families who were in their houses at the time of the accident is the most traumatic experience for members of families, relations, the Dana group the Lagos State Government and the country at this critical period of the year.

Though the lives of some of Nigeria’s best and brightest have been cut short as a result of the incidence, we are deeply touched by the sorrows of many whose dreams, family prospects and expectations have been terminated.

At this point, much words or rhetoric would not do much in healing the wounds and pains of those affected directly by the unfortunate incidence; it is our hope that the Almighty God, who sees all and knows the end from the beginning, would provide even better succour and fortitude for the bereaved to bear their losses.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the affected. We also want Nigerians to know that we do not place people above money hence, we are more concerned here with lives than any other activities or losses we have encountered as a result of the crash.

Presently, we are working with various investigative organs of the regulatory bodies to find the rout cause of the crash. Already, the black had been recovered and we hope to share information on what happened in no distant time. We are also working with families of the deceased and those who are presently receiving treatment at the hospital. Our management have been at both the site and hospital to addressed issues with families of the deceased even as plans are on to address issues with the statement government and immediate community where the incident took place.

Our Insurance companies are working round the clock  to find tune processes and once there is the green light, all claims regarding all lives lost, injuries and properties will be adequately addressed. 
In the interim, we have set up a crisis management unit at the Dana Air office, MMA 2, Lagos for enquiries of any kind.  The general public and the media can direct all enquiries to ….. , while a toll free line will soon be opened to address all enquiries.

In accordance with international protocol governing aviation accident investigations, all information about the investigation will come from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Dana Air will however provide information relating to the flight itself and updates on steps being taken.

It will also be pertinent to say that at Dana Air, we place a high premium on safety and we adhere strictly to the maintenance schedule of all our aircrafts as prescribed by the manufacturers, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. More detailed and scheduled checks are, however, carried out at MRO facilities abroad.
As a matter of fact, that particular aircraft had its last 400-hourly check (A-Check) only in May 30, 2012 while the statutory annual maintenance (C-Check) is not due until September 2012. The Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the NCCA after the last C-Check was still very valid as at the time of the incident.
We deeply regret the incidence and hope Nigerians would join us in rebuilding to the best of our ability all that has been lost as a result of the crash.
 
Once again, we at Dana Air extend our profoundest condolences.

Jacky Hathiramani
Chief Executive Officer

Public statement from Dana
Dear Concerned Public,
Following the crash incident of Sunday, June 03, 2012, involving a Dana Air Plane, it has become imperative for us to communicate the latest developments to you:
  1. We immediately deployed Men and  Materials to the Crash site at Iju-Ishaga, the crash site in order to assist search and rescue operations
  2. Senior Management of Dana Air were also immediately on ground as part of the search and rescue efforts
  3. We are working with Government and Key Regulatory Authorities in the Nigerian Aviation Industry to uncover the truths regarding this tragic incident
  4. We are also working closely with the Lagos State Government on the relocation of displaced families at the crash site and have sent relief materials to displaced families
  5. We have opened an incident response centre and have deployed an Emergency Management Team
  6. We are working closely with Medical team for DNA procedures so the remains of the deceased are properly identified and prepared for burial
  7. As part of our incident response,  we are in talks with Trauma Managers and are opening a Public Enquiries Toll-free lines so we are able to pass on information and retrieve critical information

It must be noted that these are very trying times for the entire nation because of the loss of precious souls as result of this sad incident, we therefore urge the Media, Citizen Journalists and the concerned public to avoid rumours and speculations but rather seek insightful information which will help heal the nation and uncover critical details as to the cause of the crash and the possible ways of ameliorating the pains of the victims.
At Dana Air, we remain eternally committed to a resolution and healing process not just out of duty of care but more importantly because of the loss of priceless souls in this sad incident and are open to public scrutiny of our actions going forward.
Dana Air wishes to thank well-meaning Nigerians and Institutions who are standing side-by-side with us in the management of this tragedy. It is our prayer that affected families will find divine succor to sooth their hearts as we deploy all the resources at our disposal in the recovery process.
Signed
DANA AIR MANAGEMENT

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