Dana Crash: 11 Victims’ Relations Received Compensation, One Year After

Dana Air crash scene

Almost one year after, only relatives of 11 out of about 146 passengers, who died at the Dana Air flight 0992 which  crashed on June 3, 2012 have received the full compensation of $100,000 as stipulated by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). About 153 passengers on board died while scores people on ground were wounded.

Besides, the relatives of the deceased persons who went to court to demand higher compensation, 95 others had received the initial payment of $30,000 as at May 25.

The aircraft, which flew from Abuja crashed in the Iju/Ishaga area of Lagos,  on June 3 and since then the relatives of the victims are yet to receive full compensation from the airline.

However, Spokesman of Dana Air, Tony Usidamen, said the insurers of Dana Air had made unprecedented progress in payment of compensation.

“As of Friday, May 24, 2013, 95 of the 125 families who completed claim forms had received interim compensation of $30,000 following legal verification of documentation and next-of-kin status while 11 have received full compensation of $100,000; about 21 more, whose grants of probate have just come through, will receive full payment shortly upon execution of release. Delay in completion of the payment process is due to incomplete documentation, multiple claim cases, challenge in securing grant of probate/letter of guardianship (in the case of minors) and legal suits (62 persons have legal representation overseas). Our insurers are, however, sparing no efforts in processing all claims in accordance with the applicable law,” Usidamen said.

He said progress was also being made in compensation of ground victims and negotiations were on going with affected residents to settle all genuine claims within the shortest possible time.

Also, Usidamen said after satisfactorily completing a process of recertification by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), a new Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was issued to the airline on December 5, 2012 and scheduled operations commenced on January 4, 2013. 

“At present, Dana Air operates 12 flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, four on the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route and two on the Abuja-Port Harcourt-Abuja route. Plans are underway to re-launch operations to more Nigerian cities shortly. In line with its expansion plan, the airline is set to boost its current fleet of Boeing MD83 aircraft with the acquisition of Boeing 737s by the third quarter of 2013.”

In memory of the dead, Dana Air had lined up events for the remembrance of the deceased, so on Friday, May 31, there would be special Jumat Service at the Lagos Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja by 1p.m. and on Sunday, June 2,  Special Memorial Mass at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja by 11a.m.

On June 3, the airline said it would hold a memorial procession to take-off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos at 8 a.m. and terminate at the NCAA Headquarters 9 a.m.

Since the accident a year ago, many relatives and direct victims of the crash have been agitating for the full compensation of those that died in the crash and complained about the slow pace of the compensation process, but Usidamen said eight families did not submit any claim at all  in respect of their family members and others, who have not been paid would receive their payment after clearance by the aircraft’s insurers.