Luxair trial: senior management exonerated

(ADW) The Luxair crash trial has entered into its second week of hearing. Three experts were heard on Monday and the criminal police head investigator delivered his report.

Topic covered: the technical improvement the Fokker’s control unit that had not been carried out. This upgrade was under the responsibility of Luxair’s technical service. The company’s management however was exonerated through elements of the investigation presented by the head investigator.

Early in his report, the investigator discussed the possible misconduct committed during the Fokker 50’s servicing and its flight worthiness. Several times the anomaly regarding the “skid control unit” (SCU) was mentioned, known by Luxair, but had not been corrected.

Anomaly was known since 1994

In 1994, the manufacturer Fokker had informed airlines, via a circular, a change in the SCU was recommended but not required, and should be at the expense of the operator. The anomaly in question is reported to be one of the causes of the Fokker crash.

Judge Prosper Klein asked the question, "Why was this anomaly not corrected by the technical service at the time?” As far as he was concerned from a technical and material standpoint, the upgrade would not have caused much disruption.

Monitoring technology is not the responsibility of senior management

Judge Prosper Klein also exonerated Luxair senior management by stating that they did not hold licences to fly nor possess technical knowledge regarding the servicing of aircraft. The roles of management lies in other areas, he said. The investigator confirmed that senior managers were not aware of the service bulletins in contrast to the technical department.

The trial continues on Tuesday afternoon.