Dana Air MD-83 was a disaster in the making. Unloaded by a U.S.-based company, Alaska Airlines, the plane had seen numerous service failures since its manufacture in 1990

Problems with the MD-83 in Alaska:

On November 4, 2002 the aircraft - then owned by US-based Alaska Airlines - developed faults and had to make an emergency diversion due to smoke in the cabin area..

On August 20, 2006, it was again evacuated after landing at the Long Beach, CA again due to smoke in the cabin area. During the post event airplane inspection, maintenance personnel found the wire bundle damaged in the mid-cargo pit ceiling at station 750 due to chafing and subsequent arcing of the Over Wing Heater Blanket system. They also found that wires in some bundles were damaged to the point of disconnection/separation, while other wire bundles sustained thermal melting to their outer insulation jacket.

Concerned about potential risks to its air worthiness, Alaska Airlines parked the aircraft until Sept. 11 2008 to carry out maintenance on the plane.

On February 2009 Alaska Airlines shifted the burden to Nigeria when it sold the ill-fated plane.

Problems with the Dana MD-83 in Nigeria:

On May 3 2012, a Lagos station manager said the aircraft needed to be grounded for a check-up but that alarm was ignored.

On May 11, 2012, the same Lag/Abj aircraft had an air return and emergency landing at the MM2 airport. Passengers disembarked

On May 25, 2012, the same plane abandoned its La/Calabar flight, making another air return. Engine failure was reported. No casualties

On June 3, while on a final approach to the runway, the aircraft rammed into a power line, crashed into a built-up area about 5-6 nautical miles from touch down. It burst into flames, killing all 153 passengers on board and 30 on ground.

SOURCE: http://saharareporters.com/news-page/dana-air-troubled-airline-checkered-history-failures