DANA Air Pays N445.5 million As Interim Compensation To 90 victims

DANA Air has paid out a 30 per cent interim compensation of N4.95 million ($30,000) each to 90 of the 153 victims of the ill-fated June 3, 2012 plane crash with a promise to redeem the 70 per cent balance of N11.55 million ($70,000) each soon.

That means the Airline has, through its insurance companies – Prestige Insurance Nigeria and Lloyd’s of London, so far paid N445.5 million for 90 victims to their families as part compensation and is still to offset N1.03 trillion to the 90 families.

A management team from Dana Air, led by the Head, Commercial, Engr. Mbanuzor Obialor and Group Head, Corporate Communications, Tony Usidamen, during a visit to The Guardian, said the Airline is ready to fly again and is only waiting for the go-ahead from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The team said the Airline, in conjunction with the NCAA, is holding a special meeting today with the families of the 153 victims to sort out the remaining issues, especially as regards the insurance claims, and plans to introduce new fleet of aircrafts in 2013 as part of efforts to boost its business operations.

The team said preliminary findings on the cause of the crash have dismissed systemic problem of the aircraft even as they suspect human error. They said the airline has procured fire-tracking system for all its aircraft to be installed by a Canadian company and has been training and retraining all members of staff on refresher courses.

Obialor said: “The crash was a very shocking incident for us. We have visited every family that was affected in the crash. Of the 153 victims’ family, only 125 submitted information for the processing of their insurance claims. So far, 90 families have received their 30 per cent interim payment.