Basketmouth ,Others Take Dana Inaugural Flight (See Pictures)

Dana Airlines  resumed flight operations Frirday, about seven months after one of its aircraft crashed into a building in Lagos, killing 163 people on board the country’s worst airline disaster in about two decades with an inaugural flight to Abuja. this is even as some victims’ families who are yet to be compensated described  the re-issuance of Dana operational license by the federal government as malicious and wicked.

The government lifted a ban on the airline in September but an investigation is ongoing and there is still no official explanation of the crash.

The airline’s five remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-83’s operating in Nigeria have a capacity of 140.

The aircraft M083 with number 7VC9QZ and piloted by Captain  Ola Olukayode departed from domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at exactly 10.10am and landed smoothly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 11.08 am.

Airline spokesman Tony Usidamen said 67 passengers were on board the resumed Lagos-Abuja flight yesterday and 82 on the return journey.

The flight, had on board passengers who came early in the morning to buy their tickets, journalists, showbiz personalities, and  comedians like  Bright Okpocha,  a.k.a Basket Mouth.

The take off was smooth, even as passengers on board the aircraft did not show any apprehension during take off. Passengers gave a standing ovation to the pilot on touch down.

“There was a round of applause for the very smooth landing,” Usidamen said on telephone.

Tickets were sold for as little as N14,400  ($92) one way, around half what some airlines are charging. Dana Air will only be flying the Lagos-Abuja route for the time being.

The MD-83 crashed in a Lagos suburb on June 3, killing everyone on board and 10 people on the ground.

”We won’t know the cause until the investigation has been completed,” Aviation Ministry spokesman Joe Obi said. “A thorough audit of the airline has been done and the remaining fleet is airworthy.”

Speaking with aviation reporters after a safe return to Lagos at exactly 1.29 pm., the pilot, Captain  Olukayode commended the Federal Government for allowing the Dana Airline to resume flight operations.