Air Taxi airline has suspended its air services operations until further notice following a serious incident that occurred yesterday, resulting in one of the airline’s aircraft crashing in the Mortmarte area and causing the death on one of the five people on board.

In an interview today with VBTC News, Acting Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV), Wilfred Makaba, stated that CAAV is currently making arrangements to bring in an independent investigator to determine the root cause of the incidents happening with Air Taxi airline.

“The Civil Aviation Authority is trying now to bring in an independent investigator as soon as possible to find out the root cause of these accidents”

Acting Director Makaba stated.

Mr. Makaba explained that CAAV cannot conduct the investigation itself because, as the regulator of the airline, there is a possibility of a conflict of interest in the investigation.

Mr. Makaba mentioned that there is a possibility that CAAV may terminate the airline’s license, but this will depend on the outcome of the investigation that will take place.

He said that, for now, Air Taxi has suspended its air services until the investigation is completed, which will show what actions CAAV can take towards this issue.

He noted that what happened yesterday is not the first incident that has put the lives of the airline’s passengers at risk.