Venezuela state airline stops for safety checks

[naaman fletcher]

Flights to restart on Oct. 1

CARACAS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Venezuelan state airline Conviasa suspended flights on Friday for a two-week revision of safety standards after a crash and two emergency landings.

"Given the events of recent days, Conviasa has decided to temporarily suspend flights ... in order to carry out a full technical audit and assess protocols and procedures," a statement from the company said.

Flights would resume on Oct. 1, it added.

In Conviasa's second major accident since it was created by President Hugo Chavez's government in 2004, a turboprop ATR-42 plane crashed on Monday in southern Venezuela, killing 17 people.

Then two of its planes had to make emergency landings on Wednesday and Thursday for technical problems.

"During this period (of suspension), special attention will be paid to the emotional health of airline staff, especially the crew," Conviasa added in its statement.

In 2008, a Conviasa Boeing 737 crashed in mountains in Ecuador, killing the three crew members on board. It was not carrying passengers. (Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1712504820100917

I bet the conclusion is sabotage.

[Downwinder]

1. Be a change from "Pilot error."