Investigations against the sub-manager after AUA hailing: Danger for aviation?

Investigations against the sub-manager after AUA hailing: Danger for aviation?

Almost ten months after a serious hailstick, which damaged a machine from Austrian Airlines (AUA), the investigation has achieved a new dimension. The Vienna public prosecutor's office has now initiated a procedure against the head of the Federal Security Examination Center (SUB) and six other people. The suspicion includes abuse of office, promotion and evidence suppression, whereby not all suspects are affected equally, such as OE24 reported.

The incident occurred on June 9, 2024, when the Airbus A320 got into a thunderstorm cell to Vienna on the return flight of Palma de Mallorca. The plane had to make an emergency call ("Mayday"), but was able to land safely at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the passengers, but the machine suffered considerable damage. The situation led to a detailed investigation in which Cockpit Voice Recorder and flight data recorders in the Ministry of Transport were secured three weeks ago after the sub had not published them voluntarily.

Investigations and critical voices

The factual presentation by the passenger lawyer Wolfgang List ensures additional pressure on the SUB, which expresses severe suspicions of corruption and other crimes. The Viennese indictment then checked the initial suspicion and initiated the investigation. In an interim report, the SUB is spoken by an "incident" and not of an "accident", which was criticized by the public. The Sub has become criticized in the aviation community because of its refusal to publish the voice recorder and data storage.

The procedures concerned have now been submitted by the head of the sub and the other suspects. International private reports have found a "serious accident", while the cockpit voice recorder and flight data writers have not yet been evaluated. A judicial judgment of the Vienna Higher Regional Court is pending to clarify whether the securing of the records was right. While the investigation is ongoing, the public prosecutor's office in Korneuburg continues to examine the allegation of negligent general risk.

context for aviation safety

With regard to such incidents, the role of the Federal Office for Flight Accident Investigation (BFU) is clearly defined. The BFU works in accordance with Regulation No. 996/2010 and the flight accident investigation law and examines accidents and serious disorders with civilian aircraft in Germany. Significant disorders are only examined if you can expect considerable knowledge for aviation safety, so BFU .

regardless of the judicial or administrative procedure, with the aim of accident prevention. Reports from the BFU do not contain any findings on guilt or liability, which is an important aspect in the discussion about aviation safety. An end to the current investigation is not yet foreseeable due to the extensive process.