If u fall to Plan

Dr. Biodun Ogungbo

I planned to go to Lagos but did not have a specific time. I therefore simply turned up at the airport and headed straight for the Arik counter. I got to the airport at about 8.30am and found out that they had a 9.00am flight departing for Lagos. ‘Could I have a ticket for the 9.00am flight please?’ I asked.

‘No’, said the duty supervisor. ‘The next flight is at 1.00 pm’. I was irritated and decided to leave them and go to another airline. So I did and they had a flight leaving earlier at 11.45am. It was also much cheaper than Arik; about half the price!

I bought the ticket and proceeded to the departure hall. All went well till we actually went into the plane and settled down. That’s when it hit me. The realisation, the clues and link: the significance of the name of the airline and the history behind it all. DANA airlines! I was sitting in the same air carrier that crashed and killed a lot of people only very recently. Goodness! How did I end up here?

I wondered if I was alone on the flight, but I wasn’t. The flight was fairly busy and many people had settled in, ready for take-off. The stewardesses were looking prim and proper and no anxieties anywhere. I was anxious and wanted off the flight. This was the same DANA? Do I use two seat belts? Strap on the parachute? Do I have time to get a fire resistant blanket? Can I have an ejector seat, please? Should I just ask to be allowed off the flight to go ease myself? Outside of the plane, please!

Oh, goodness. There I was belted in and eyes closed tight as the flight took off for Lagos. I tried to sleep, lose myself in a fugue state and hope to land safely in Lagos. In the airport, please. My dreams of troubled thoughts were, however, interrupted by the stewardess asking if I wanted something to eat. ‘No’, I said. ‘It is better to have an empty stomach, in case one needs an emergency operation’. I looked out to see if we were out of the clouds and close to the ground. Close to landing on the ground! In the airport, please.

Anyway, how could I have forgotten about DANA and be so comfortable, sitting in their airplane? How could all the other passengers and Nigeria have seemingly forgotten and apparently forgiven DANA? What has changed? What lessons have been learnt? How very trusting we are and so very blessed with short term memory?

Let me remind us about the crash.

On Sunday, June 3, 2012, the DANA passenger plane from Abuja, crashed into two houses at Iju, a suburb of Lagos metropolis, killing all 146 passengers and seven crew members on board. Dana Air Flight 992 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft making a scheduled commercial passenger flight from Abuja to Lagos, Nigeria. The aircraft apparently 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 10 deaths and an unknown number of injuries to people on the ground. The accident occurred after the crew reported engine trouble and declared an emergency 11 nautical miles (20 km) from the airport. The MD-83 then crashed into a crowded neighbourhood near the airport, apparently landing on its tail and causing a large fire.

The crash scene reportedly became chaotic, reporting that thousands of Lagos residents attempted to approach the site. Locals attempted to bring hoses to the site since the services were not yet on the scene. Fire-fighters and water were scarce for several hours due to the city’s shortage of fire trucks (nonexistent in this local community). Civilians therefore attempted to fight the fire (a burning aeroplane!) by hand with water from plastic buckets. Water trucks commandeered from nearby construction projects had difficulties reaching the site due to the neighbourhood’s narrow roads. Oh, the joys of life in Nigeria.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared three days of national mourning. It was reported that President Jonathan also pledged that “every possible effort” would be made to boost the nation’s aviation safety.

Have you noted any changes?

In the Aviation industry, disaster management, response of the services, availability of equipment, improvements in fire fighting services in your local area, better road transport network and, attitude and behaviour of Nigerians in disaster situations. Any changes?

Only God can get us home safely in Nigeria. Once you decide to fly or indeed get into a vehicle in Nigeria, you should immediately submit to the will of Allah. The sad thing though is that we need to do very little to gain lots and to save lives. We need to learn from lessons of the past to make our future better. We must try and guarantee safety by adequate planning, strict adherence to rules and regulations, following protocols and observing procedures. Do not rely on faith or fate. No Insha Allah’s please. God only helps those who help themselves.