Insurers of Dana Air, today, commenced payment of USD 70,000 to families of victims of the June 3 disaster after having made advance payments of USD 30,000 to over 80 families. The Civil Aviation Act stipulates that the sum of USD 100,000 be paid as compensation to families of victims of air disasters.
Dana Air’s Head of Corporate Communications Tony Usidamen said: “Following receipt of Letter of Authentification from the Probate Registry, our insurers have begun balance payment of USD 70,000 to affected families. Only 4 other families have, so far, presented the requisite Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration, and payment will shortly be made to them.”
Usidamen explained that in order to assess and verify full compensation due and payable, it is necessary for claimants to produce the required Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration which would then have to be authenticated by the Probate Registry.
“This is a customary procedure to ensure that just compensation is only paid to the right next-of-kin. Dana Air has no control over the speed with which the Probate Registry deals with the verification process, although maximum pressure is being exerted to expedite this.” He added.
Speaking in the case of minors, Usidamen explained that a Letter of Guardianship will be required from the parent or guardian in order to access full payment. He further added this not being a pre-condition given by Dana Air or its insurers but a standard legal requirement to ensure that due compensation is paid only to those who have entitlement.
In conclusion Usidamen restated the airlines deep condolences, expressing the company's appreciation of the difficulties and challenges all affected families were going through in accessing the necessary documents, and thanking all those involved such as NCAA and the Lagos State Government in making the process a smooth one.
“Dana Air shares in the pain of all the affected families and we wish to re-iterate the readiness of our insurers to settle all claims in accordance with the law and available evidence, at the earliest opportunity,” Usidamen reassured.
Dana Air Flight 992 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft making a scheduled commercial passenger flight from Abuja to Lagos, Nigeria. On Sunday, June 3, 2012, the aircraft crashed into a furniture works and printing press building in the Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood of Lagos . The crash, believed to have been caused by dual engine failure and subsequent forced landing, resulted in the deaths of all 153 people on board, as well as approximately six deaths and an unknown number of injuries to people on the ground. Victims of note include Alhaji Ibrahim Damcida, the Under-Secretary of Ministry of Industries.
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