Dana Air to review AIB’s full reports on ill-fated crash

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Dana Air

Dana Air has disclosed that the airline would review all the safety recommendations prescribed in the full report of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) that was made public on Monday.

Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, the airline’s Communications Manager, stated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Lagos on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AIB Commissioner, Mr Akin Olateru, on Monday presented the final reports on the Dana crash and three other serious incidents.

NAN reports that the Boeing MD-83 aircraft with registration number 5N-RAM which was going to Lagos from Abuja crashed in the densely-populated Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State.

The plane crashed into a two-storey building at Iju-Ishaga, killing all 153 passengers on board, including six crew. There were also six confirmed ground fatalities.

Ezenwa confirmed in the statement that the airline had acknowledged the full report of the bureau.

“The airline will continue to review the safety recommendations contained in the previous interim and this final reports that have been made public by the Accident Investigation Bureau.

“We are glad that the report confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy at the time of departure, flight crew were certified and that we have cleared all defects during their last check,” he said.

Ezenwa noted that the airline had swung into action immediately the Interim Safety Recommendations of the airline’s ill-fated crash were released in 2013.

“We wish to also state that Dana Air swung into action immediately the Interim Safety Recommendations were released in 2013.

“And as an airline which is strictly committed to the safety and comfort of its passengers, we have implemented all the recommendations same year, as released by AIB.

“We did not stop at just implementing the recommendations; we also successfully passed an operational audit conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s Flight Safety Group and its foreign partners.

“In 2016, after another rigorous operational audit, Dana Air was admitted into the IOSA register to underscore its strict adherence to global management and safety standards and procedures required of global carriers.

“Also went further to win two awards from two reputable organisations for the redefining role it played in the aviation industry same year,” he said.

Ezenwa explained that the airline had maintain a rich spare parts store to date, adding that it had doubled its maintenance and safety efforts with constant training and retraining of our crew and ground staff.

“This has led to our continuous provision of reliable air transport operation and a record 4.5 million passengers flown in the last eight years of our operation.

Ezenwa said the airline reassured passengers of its total commitment to their safety and comfort onboard flights.

“The safety and comfort of our guests remains a top priority to us and may the beautiful souls of the crew and guests we lost in the unfortunate accident continue to rest in peace- Amen.

“They remain forever in our hearts and our prayers and thoughts will continue to be with their friends and loved ones,” he added.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mkGZIN

History beckons for Serena, Venus in the way (Read full details)

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This combination of pictures created on January 27, 2017 shows<br />Venus Williams of the US (L) hitting a return against Coco Vandeweghe of the US during their women's singles semi-final match and Serena Williams of the US (R) hitting a return against Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni during their women's singles semi-final match on day 11 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2017.<br />Serena and Venus will contest the Australian Open women's singles final on January 28 setting up their first major final together in eight years.<br />SAEED KHAN, GREG WOOD / AFP

History beckons for Serena Williams at the Australian Open on Saturday as she targets a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title — with her sister, Venus, standing in the way.

It will be the 29th major final for Serena since making her Grand Slam debut in Australia in 1998, and she powered through to the decider without dropping a set.

Much less predictably, her elder sister will be on the other side of the net, searching for her first Grand Slam crown in nine long years since Wimbledon in 2008.

A seventh Melbourne triumph for Serena will finally push her past Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major titles, with only Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 still to beat.

“It would mean a lot to me,” said the second seed, who also stands to reclaim the world number one ranking from Angelique Kerber. “I wouldn’t know what to do actually. I’m still taking it one point at a time.”

Regardless of what is on the line, it will a special occasion for Serena as she is unexpectedly facing Venus, whom few had tipped to reach the final aged 36 and after years of illness and injury problems.

“It’s the one time that I really genuinely feel like no matter what happens, I can’t lose, she can’t lose,” Serena, 35, said of the all-Williams encounter.

They are each other’s greatest rivals, playing 27 times in their long careers, including in eight Grand Slam finals. Serena holds a 6-2 edge in the major deciders, with a 16-11 win-loss record overall.

Venus, who has won seven Grand Slam finals and lost another seven, has become the Australian Open’s oldest finalist in the Open era as she attempts to crash her sibling’s party.

“Honestly I probably just need to continue playing as I’m playing. I’m not playing badly,” said Venus.

“Okay, it won’t be an easy match. You have to control yourself, then you also have to hopefully put your opponent in a box.”

Seeded 13, Venus now holds the record for the longest wait between major finals, at seven-and-a-half years since her last appearance at Wimbledon in 2009.

Following them on court will be the men’s doubles final, where American veterans Bob and Mike Bryan play Finland’s Henri Kontinen and Australia’s John Peers.

History beckons for Serena, Venus in the way

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kCK5uj