The aviation watchdogs have recently suspended CityWing Airline for a flight that intentionally took off given the austere weather condition.
On February 23, Flight 502 was set to depart from the channel island to Belfast at 11 am. In spite of gale force winds, the flight proceeded as normal. It was later forced to return to the Isle of Man where it made an earlier than expected touchdown at Ronaldsway airport.
The fiasco led to the Ronaldsway airport runway being closed for several hours. There were also firefighters attending the scene. As a domino effect, passengers on later flights on that day have experienced delays of flights as a result of this incident.
According to Express, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that it has suspended Van Air's permission to fly in the UK in the wake of a pending investigation. A spokesperson for the CAA was quoted saying that the Czech civil aviation authorities, who have regulatory oversight of Van Air, are investigating the incident.
The airline company said in a statement that they confirm that Van Air-operated flight 502 took off from the Isle of Man destined for Belfast on Thursday morning, but returned due to worsening weather conditions in Northern Ireland. Van Air has advised Citywing that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has requested to speak with Van Air following the incident. Until such discussions happen, the UK CAA has asked Van Air to stop flying. Unfortunately, this means that all Citywing flights will be affected until further notice.
CityWing Managing Director David Buck was quoted saying that passenger safety is always their top priority. He added that all incidents are being investigated as a part of their routine. He continued that they are currently working with the flight operator Van Air and significant authorities to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
CityWing services provide scheduled flights from the Isle of Man to different destinations such as Blackpool, Belfast, and Glasgow. It has also flights going to Newcastle, Gloucester, and Liverpool airports. Czech-based firm Van Air operates the airline.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
