CAAP suspends operator of light plane in Parañaque crash

MANILA, Philippines—The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has suspended the license of Aviation Technology Innovators, the operator of the light cargo plane that crashed into a Parañaque neighborhood last weekend.

“ATI was placed under preventive suspension pending the conduct of the investigation. It means ATI cannot operate,” said Capt. Amado Soliman Jr., head of CAAP’s aircraft accident investigation inquiry board.

The ATI apparently violated the rules on flight operations, including flying the Beechcraft Queen Air cargo plane even without a written lease agreement with the owner of the plane.

The CAAP earlier said it found that the aircraft owner, Fidel Hembrador, had no air operator’s certificate (AOC) or license to fly, raising the possibility that the plane was operating “colorum” or unregistered.

“The plane looked like it was moonlighting and based on flight plan, it was using the certificate of ATI,” CAAP director general Ramon Gutierrez said earlier.

He explained that ATI is a firm that is leased for aircraft maintenance and hangar arrangements. Further investigation showed that the crashed plane had used ATI’s hangar and repair facilities, he said.

He said ATI could face sanctions as its certificate was used in the fateful flight.