China's aviation regulator ordered China Express Air to suspend operations starting today after a wing tip of one of its planes scraped on the ground when making a landing in the country's southwest on Saturday. No one was injured in the incident.
It is the first punishment for a domestic airline since the August 24 crash in Yichun City that killed 42 people and injured 54.
The CRJ200 aircraft operated by Guiyang-based China Express Air was carrying more than 40 passengers from Shijiazhuang in north China to Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, at 1:59am on Saturday. When landing, the tip of the right wing scraped the ground, which "exposed potential hazards in the carrier's operation," according to a notice issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The administration ordered the private regional carrier to suspend operation, saying the company is weak in safety management and operation efficiency.
The regulator will send a team to help the company conduct safety checks and investigations into the issue, and then decide when to resume operation, according to the notice.
"The carrier has been operating for four years and this is the first time our airplane met with safety problem. It is a special case but we will find out the reason and conduct widespread safety checks," said Chen Huaiyun, vice general manager of the carrier.
Chen said passengers can refund their tickets for free and the carrier will help them change to other flights.
The carrier, founded in 2006, is 40 percent owned by Shanghai-based Cathay Fortune Corp, 25 percent by High Hero International Ltd, 24 percent by Tampines International Ltd and 11 percent by a Beijing technology company.
China Express Air operates 25 routes. Its fleet of CRJ200 aircraft are produced by Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier. The plane holds about 50 passengers.
The aviation regulator began tightening safety inspections of the nation's passenger airline network after the Yichun air crash.
