NCAA, NAICOM collaborate on compensation for families of Dana crash victims

Aviation Nigeria.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has said that it is collaborating with the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM,  to ensure the payments of full compensation to families of the victims of the Dana Air crash.

NCAA also promised families of the ground victims of the crash their  insurance compensation, saying it will do everything possible to ensure that the families of the ground victims are not left to their fate.

Mr. Harold Demuren, Director-General, NCAA while briefing journalists in Lagos  said the  compensation for families of the 153 passengers on board of the aircraft has been impressive.

He said the ground victims are of major concern, promising that NCAA will exercise its power to ensure that families of ground victims are compensated.

Demuren who was represented by Mrs. Teresa Bassey, Head, Aeromedia, NCAA, said for now, they have not ascertained the number of people that died on the ground, but promised that they will do so in a short-while and commence the process of compensating the families of the victims, both of lives and property. “NCAA insists that all the ground victims should be compensated,” he said.

While giving update on the victims on board, he said of the 153, 131 victims’ families have so far submitted any documentation, while families of 12 victims are yet to submit any documentation.

He added that families of 53 victims had gone to court, which included the families of 23 victims who had collected the initial payment of 30,000 dollars.

Stating that documentation for 24 victims is awaiting authentication by the insurers, he added that Letter of Administration (LOA) for families of 48 victims are still being awaited.

According to him, cheques of the initial payment of 30,000 dollar compensation have been paid to 85 victims.

However, for the families to collect the remaining $70,000 compensation, he said LOA is required by the Reinsurance Company.

“NCAA has held several meetings with some of the families of the victims and their lawyers, alongside NAICOM  and sought the assistance of the Lagos State Government in order to fast track the process of  the issuance of the LOA,” he said.

To this end, he said 14 victims have so far received the LOA and they have collected the remaining $70,000 which constitutes the full payment

Dana commences balance payment to crash victims.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

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.