A China Eastern Airbus A319, performing flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Kangding Airport, impacted a number of runway approach lights while attempting to land at Kangding. The aircraft struck approximately six lights, one of which penetrated the horizontal stabilizer, subsequently causing a hydraulic leak. The flight crew aborted the landing and returned to the departure airport where the aircraft performed a safe landing. The aircraft received substantial damage to its right hand stabilizer, hydraulic systems and a number of tyres.

As a result, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) launched an immediate investigation and also called an emergency meeting to identify the causal factors. Preliminary analysis of the flight data recorder showed that the flight crew had entered a holding pattern due to poor weather conditions. Upon receiving notification that weather had cleared, the flight crew initiated a descent. However, as the aircraft approached Minimum Descent Height (MDH), the crew had still not made visual contact with the runway. Despite this, the captain decided to continue with the approach. The aircraft consequently touched down outside of the airport perimeter and impacted four rows of approach lights. The flight crew failed to notify Air Traffic Control of the occurrence, which was also a breach of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

The CAAC temporarily suspended the Sichuan Branch of Chine Eastern Airlines while it conducted disciplinary proceedings. The CAAC revoked the licences of both captains on board and suspended the first officer for 6 months. In addition to a sizable fine, the flight volume of the Sichuan branch was cut by 10% and it cannot apply for new routes nor increase its flight volumes.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has withdrawn permission for Iranian airline, Mahan Air, to operate within Saudi airspace. The ban was reportedly introduced after Mahan Air was found to have committed a number of safety and security violations, which prompted the GACA to suspend the airline’s permits to operate within Saudi airspace. Effective immediately, the ban restricts Mahan Air from landing at any airport within Saudi Arabia and also prohibits the airline from transiting its airspace.

On the 13th April 2016, a Sunbird Aviation Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, performing charter flight from Oksapmin Airport to Kuinga Airport (Papua New Guinea) impacted a river approximately 1km short of the runway. Initial reports indicate that the one of the aircraft’s engines failed whilst on approach to Kuinga Airport. However, the specific details of the accident have not yet been confirmed. All 12 occupants on board were fatally injured in the accident. Local authorities have launched an official investigation into the accident and will be assisted by the Australian National Transport Safety Board (NTSB).