Air Fiji aircraft hits airport terminal building

Fiji's Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into an incident that occurred the day before yesterday in which an Air Fiji aircraft rolled into an airport terminal building.

The CAA of Fiji has launched an investigation and Air Fiji too is "currently doing an investigation into the incident," says Malakai Nawai, former chief pilot of Air Fiji and CEO of Air Fiji's sister company Airlines Tonga.

"Supposedly it was a hydraulic problem but there are also other factors that need to be considered," he says.

Malakai says the incident, involving a 15-seat Harbin Y12 with nine passengers and two pilots on board, occurred at around 14:00 on 12 October.

The Y12 had just completed a flight - from Nadi to the other Fijian island of Taveuni further north - and was taxiing to the terminal.

"The pilot was not able to stop and the aircraft rolled into the terminal building," he says.

Despite hitting the building there was no further damage to the aircraft, he adds.

Malakai was unable to give the registration of the aircraft but pictures published in local newspapers show the registration is DQ-FHC. According to Air Fiji's website it has five Harbin Y12s.

He says the aircraft involved in the incident was used by both Air Fiji and Airlines Tonga.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
Fonte: Flight Safety Informations 14/10/2008.