By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
There has been calls for Comair’s operating licence to suspended again after a British Airways flight experienced technical problems with its landing gear on Saturday.
The flight, was travelling from Gqeberha to Cape Town, had trouble landing at an airport, resulting in a 15 minute delay.
“We confirm that following a landing gear warning indication on BA6324 on final approach from Gqeberha to Cape Town International Airport, the pilot performed standard safety checks, and once the correct reading was achieved a normal landing was carried out,” a statement read.
“Unfortunately the incident did have a knock on effect resulting in the cancellation of some other services. Customers were accommodated on other flights,” said BA spokesperson Stephen Forbes on Sunday.
“Comair has an enviable 76-year track record. It operates some of the most modern aircraft in South African skies, applies global best practice to ensure operational safety and crew training is world-class, “said Forbes.
South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is already looking into Saturday’s incident and an investigation into the matter may be launched, based on the information the regulator is gathering.
The incident comes days after the SACAA lifted its 5-day suspension on Comair, which operates the local British Airways and low-cost carrier Kulula.com.
Following Saturday’s incident, the EFF said in a statement that “the situation has reached a level where it now constitutes a security threat”.
“We must not wait until lives are lost, and an aircraft crashes into innocent communities, before we stop the blood-thirsty quest by capitalists to make money without any due consideration of safety and compliance, “the Red Berets said.
The party argued that the SACAA’s audit on Comair was “rushed”, saying the airline “was allowed to resume its operations without adequate checks and compliance to technical requirements being met.”
“This is us without a doubt due to undue pressure by commercial interests in the aviation sector, to resume operations,” the EFF said.
“This is the hallmark of how the private sector operates and the barbarian nature of capital. The safety and security of passengers, and the cost of human life has been disregarded, in the interests of profit maximisation, “the party added.