The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) mulls the possibility of imposing penalties against the Saudi Arabian Airlines, after a pilot of flight SV 872 had mistakenly hit the emergceny button that sent a distress call to the NAIA control tower on Tuesday.
According to CAAP chief Manuel Tamayo, they are currently investigating the incident, and once proven that the pilots and the crew had committed negligence, Saudia Airlines will be asked to pay for the disturbance it caused in NAIA.
“With what happened, the expenses were too big.Normally, if you declare an emergency, no matter which airline, this will activate the whole system – the fire truck facilities, ambulances, medical, security and so on. Just an ordinary emergency, there will be an corresponding cost. And the airline will pay for it,” Tamayo said.
The CAAP is still yet to determine as to how much penalty Saudia Airlines has to pay, which will depend on the result of their investigation.
Aside from the airlines, the pilots will also be held responsible.
CAAP says it is the Saudi authorities who will decide as to what their sanctions will be.
“The sanctions will have to come from their regulatory agency because they are not Filipinos or local license holders. So, it has to be the Saudi authorities to look into possible sanctions to the pilots.”
The two pilots had already admitted that they had mistakenly hit the emergency button twice, that immediately sent a distress call which alerted MIAA and thought that the plane was under threat.
The said plane was carrying more than 400 passengers, 8 cabin crew and 2 pilots.
CAAP is expected to release the result of their investigation at the soonest possible time. — Joan Nano | UNTV News & Rescue
The post CAAP to penalize Saudia airlines after pilot mistakenly hit distress call appeared first on UNTV News.