FG Grounds Dana Airline,Withdraws Operating Licence

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which regulates operations of airlines, on Sunday announced the temporary suspension of the licence of local airline Dana Air over alleged safety concerns. NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye announced the suspension in a text message to aviation correspondents, saying it was in respect of one of the airline's flights that had some safety issues on Saturday in the capital city of Abuja. He did not give details. It was the second time in a year that the operating licence of the airline has been suspended. The airline was grounded for several months last year, as its operating licence was suspended after one of its planes crashed on the outskirts of the economic capital city of Lagos, killing at least 159. The licence was, however, restored last September, after the government said it was satisfied with the air-worthiness of the airline. Consequently, Dana Air resumed operations in January 2013. Confirming the suspension, the airline said in a statement on Sunday: 'We regret to announce the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday, 16th March, 2013.' It said a meeting involving the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA had been scheduled to discuss the development on Monday.