The plane crash of the Nigerian commercial airliner in Lagos, Dana Air, killed 153 passengers on-board in addition to an undetermined amount of citizens on the ground on Sunday, June 3rd. This incident has been labeled as the worst airplane-related disaster in two decades for Nigeria. It is also the fourth crash in less than seven years involving a Nigerian domestic carrier in which more than 100 people have been fatally harmed. Muktar Usman, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau stated, “We have done the on-site accident investigation and gathering of evidence from the crash site. The next stage is the analysis of evidence, and then we will make safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences.”
United States representatives have been brought in to aid with the accident analysis.
The Nigerian government response in the aftermath has been to offer $100,000 to each family member of the victims involved in the disaster. The people whose houses have been damaged by the crash have been temporarily situated in emergency housing.
A former Comptroller General of Federal Fire Service, Fidelis Ogbogoh, on Sunday called for the government to stop all aircraft above 15 years from operating in the country. He said, “I do not think we need experts to tell us when aircraft are airworthy. Why should we allow coffins to ply the airways of the nation? Most of the aircraft in Nigeria are more than 20 years old and grounding Dana might not be the answer.” Ogbogoh further stated the crash brought forth both the notion and frustration in saying that “Nigerians are perpetually being denied the basic tenets of human rights. Nigeria deliberately in 1990 along with other member countries of the UN set up a national committee for international decade for disaster reduction. Instead of air disaster reduction, we have been experiencing an increase in disasters.”
Local media reports state that the pilot of the craft did convey information that they were experiencing engine trouble as it neared Lagos. Other reports are placing blame on the company Dana Air by claiming they overloaded a defective plane and placed short-term profit in doing so as first priority, disregarding any possible consequences.
Dana Airlines Chief Executive Jacky Hathiramani at a press conference declared, “We have been working very hard to improve the aviation in this country. This particular incident is a major setback for us. By the end of the day, I will make sure that this will not repeat itself in the country.”
Image Source First World Post/AP
Zainab is a full-time college student born and raised in New York City currently studying mass communications and journalism at the University of Delaware. Her interests include politics, fashion, writing, travel, and unhealthy doses of pop culture.
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