Mahindra Aerospace cooperates in GA8 aircraft crash probe

Mumbai, July 25 (IANS) Mahindra Aerospace on Thursday said it was cooperating with the Swedish aviation and other regulatory authorities in probe into its GA8 aircraft accident.

"GippsAero is cooperating with the investigation by the Swedish aviation and other regulatory authorities," Keith Douglas, CEO, GippsAero said in a statement.

The GA8 is manufactured in Australia by GippsAero, a Mahindra subsidiary. Mahindra Aerospace had bought a majority stake in GippsAero in 2008.

The probe was launched following a fatal GA8 aircraft accident on July 14 in Sweden during a skydiving flight. Nine people on board died in the accident.

"The CASA has temporarily suspended GA8 operations as a precautionary step, pending the outcome of further investigation by Swedish and European authorities," the authority said in a statement on July 20.

"The temporary suspension will be for up to 15 days from midnight of July 20 to midnight of August 3 and affects all GA8 aircraft operating in Australia and all Australian registered GA8 aircraft operating overseas," it said.

Subsequently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an 'emergency airworthiness directive' to European GA8 aircraft owners and operators to not operate the plane except for ferry flights.

"The CASA has sent an airworthiness engineer to Sweden to observe the accident investigation and collect relevant safety information," the statement said.

There are 63 GA8 aircraft registered in Australia, out of the total 228 aircraft in use.

The GA8 is a single engine high wing aeroplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. In Australia, GA8 is used in a range of operations, including charter, aerial work and parachuting.