Dana in touch with families of crash victims

The management of Dana Air said it has contacted 119 of the 120 families with victims in its plane that crashed in Lagos on 3 June.

In a statement in Lagos today, Dana said it was also in contact with the nine embassies managing communications with the families of the foreign nationals involved.

“These families and embassies have been sent letters of condolence and subsequent communication about the insurance documentation necessary in order to facilitate compensation payments. As at the close of business on Friday, June 29, the company had received completed insurance forms from 57 families (4 of which are our staff members), and our insurers are currently processing these. For avoidance of doubt, Dana Air has all required insurance cover and was fully up to date with policy payments.
plane.”

The airline, whose license has been suspended issued the statement in the wake of a parliamentary resolution by the Nigerian House of Representatives, asking the airline to pay N2billion, about $15m to the families of victims. Although Dana did not respond directly to the order, it listed all the efforts it has been making since the crash, in terms of meeting the demands of compensation, saying that it is prepared to ” honour its duty to the families of the departed as stipulated by the law governing tragedies such as this”.

It added: “To facilitate the completion of claims forms, and prompt payment of benefits to the affected families, we have established dedicated toll-free lines to the Crisis Management Centre to provide assistance. The company will continue to provide this service until all claims have been addressed and settled”.

The statement also read:

“Our entire management and the over 450 staff of Dana Air wish to express our profound appreciation to you for your prayers and enquiries since the tragic accident of Sunday, June 3, 2012 in which all 153 guests and crew on board Dana Air aircraft, with registration number 5N-RAM, and 5 residents of Iju-Ishaga community lost their lives.

” As operators of the aircraft, we have been in shock since the incident. We would like to first of all extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. It is so painful and we are still hurting like all households across Nigeria. We too lost friends, as well as some of our best crew, on the ill-fated flight.

” At this time, all of the senior management team of Dana Air are focused on providing assistance to the families, and also full cooperation to the authorities carrying out investigations into the cause of the accident. As yet, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has not shared with us any of the information that it has due to it being an ongoing exercise, and as a result we are limited in the facts that we can provide. However, we are doing everything within our power to ensure that the facts are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken to ensure such a tragedy can never happen again.

” Following the incident, Standard Airline Emergency Response Procedures were initiated and an information hotline and family support centres were immediately established. Crisis Management Centres have since been set up by the airline in Lagos and Abuja to offer support and counselling to all affected, and toll-free numbers and other contact details have been circulated and announced for families to contact for information and assistance.

” On the identification and release of bodies to the families, Dana Air continues to engage with the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to expedite the process as much as possible so that families can lay their loved ones to rest. As per last update from LASUTH on Friday, 22nd June, 98 per cent of DNA samples had been sent to a UK laboratory for testing. So far, 17 bodies have been properly identified and released to the families.

” At present, the airline has made direct contact with 119 of the 120 families who lost loved ones in the accident, and is also in contact with the 9 embassies managing communications with the families of the foreign nationals involved. These families and embassies have been sent letters of condolence and subsequent communication about the insurance documentation necessary in order to facilitate compensation payments. As at the close of business on Friday, June 29, the company had received completed insurance forms from 57 families (4 of which are our staff members), and our insurers are currently processing these. For avoidance of doubt, Dana Air has all required insurance cover and was fully up to date with policy payments.

” Dana Air is leaving no stone unturned towards the rehabilitation of the displaced Iju-Ishaga residents. Initial steps have been taken to provide relief materials and the company is currently working with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to provide proper accommodation, and other forms of aid, as quickly as possible. The company is also in contact with members of the community who lost properties as a result of the incident and has given assurances that adequate compensation will be paid to them as soon as possible; updates on steps being taken will be provided to all affected persons on a regular basis.

“Once again, on behalf of everyone at Dana Air, allow us to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this tragic accident. Our prayers and thoughts are with them forever.

” Dana Air will continue to offer the families assistance, and will provide further updates when possible.