‘DANA Air has contacted 103 families of victims’ •Dispatches DNA samples to UK

Written by Shola Adekola Tuesday, 26 June 2012

 

THREE weeks after the DANA Air plane crash which killed over 160 people on board and on ground, the airline management has made direct contact with 103 of the 112 families who lost loved ones in the accidents.
The development came just as the airline has also said it has made contact with the six embassies managing communications with the families of those victims from other countries.
 Also, the airline said it had successfully collected  98 per cent of DNA samples from families of victims and dispatched them to a laboratory in the United Kingdom for testing while the remainder has been sent, on Monday (yesterday).
According to the airline management, on Monday,  families of the foreign victims and their embassies have been sent letters of condolence and the insurance documentation necessary in order to facilitate compensation payments.
Equally, the airline has responded to the allegations that it was operating a free seating policy which people said might hinder the ongoing  investigation saying the airline had stopped the policy since 2011.
According to the airline management, “the company can state categorically that our free seating policy was halted in August 2011 and except on very rare occasions where flights were combined, Dana Air has since operated and allocated seating system, which was the case with flight 9J-992 of Sunday, June 3, 2012.”
-The airline also reacted to  speculation that it did not have the requisite insurance or was behind on its insurance premium payments saying that it has all required insurance cover and was fully up to date with policy payments.
The airline gave names of its insurers as Nigeria: Prestige Assurance Plc (lead underwriter)  and  international: Lloyds of London
According to the management of the airline, the ill-fated flight had two levels of cover, US$4.5 million for the value of the plane and US$350 million for third party liabilities.
“Dana Air would also like to confirm that the company 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 soon as possible. Steps have also been taken to assess loss/damage to properties, and adequate compensation will soon be made to affected residents.
“Investigations into the cause of the accident are still ongoing and Dana Air continues to offer every form of assistance to the investigating authorities,” the airline said.
 On identification and release of bodies to the families, the airline declared: “ Dana Air continues to engage with the Lagos State government and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to ensure that the process was expedited so that families can lay their loved ones to rest. As per last update on Friday, June 22, 98 per cent of DNA samples had been successfully collected and dispatched to a UK laboratory for testing while the remainder will be sent today.”
On insurance and contact with the families of the victims, the airline said as  of the Close of business on Friday June 22 that it had received completed insurance forms for 23 of the victims, two of which are the airline staff members.

SOURCE: Nigerian Tribune, 26 June 2012. http://tribune.com.ng/index.php