Aviation news

Italian govt to step up aircraft checks after plane crash

ROME, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Italian government said on Sunday it would tighten up checks on aircraft used for charter flights after a Tunisian company's passenger plane crashed into the sea near Palermo, killing at least 13 people.

Italian Transport Minister Pietro Lunardi, in Palermo to pay homage to the victims of the crash, said experts were examining the ATR-72 plane's two engines for clues as to why they cut out, forcing the pilot to crash land in the sea.

Italian authorities have ruled out terrorism or sabotage, believing that a technical problem caused the crash. The pilot was a veteran with 8,000 flying hours under his belt.

"We will step up checks on charter flight planes. We already do them, but now they'll be toughened up," Lunardi said.

The plane, operated by Tunisian company Tunintair and carrying 34 passengers and five crew, came down during its journey from Bari in southern Italy to the Tunisian island resort of Djerba.

The Italian pilot radioed to Palermo airport officials to request an emergency landing there but quickly realised that the plane would not make it. He then told them that he would have to try an emergency landing in the sea.

The ATR-72, a two-engined turboprop aircraft used for short and medium-range flights, appeared to have no problems when checked over before take-off from Bari, Italian airport officials said.

The 13-year-old plane underwent thorough examination in Italy four times, the last of which was on March 25 this year, the Italian national civil aviation agency ENAC reported.

As Italian officials inspected the plane's two engines, Lunardi vowed that nothing would be left undone in efforts to find the cause of the crash and identify those responsible.