THE director of Civil Aviation for the Isle of Man has complained to the Belfast Telegraph over what he called a "highly misleading" article published after the Manx2.com plane crash.
Brian Johnson said the newspaper "should have done its homework" before publishing the article - 15 key questions about doomed flight NM7100 – on Saturday, February 12.
This was two days after the flight, which was travelling from Belfast, crashed in fog at Cork Airport killing six people.
The question and answer style article was conducted with Gerry Byrne an aviation analyst who discussed why the flight was allowed to take off in poor weather, the age of the plane, and who was at fault for the crash.
Mr Johnson felt that one question in particular concerning the Civil Aviation Authority's say over the safety of Manx2.com planes was misleading.
The newspaper reported: "The Isle of Man, where Manx2 airlines is based, is not a constituent part of the UK and it is not a member of the European Union. That means neither the CAA nor the EU's Joint Aviation Authority (JAR), have any sway over what it does in aviation terms."
In his response to the article, which the Belfast Telegraph has published today, Mr Johnson said: "Your article was highly misleading in suggesting that regulatory oversight of Manx2.com planes rests with the Isle of Man authorities and, therefore, beyond the scope of UK and EU safety standards.
"The Isle of Man's aviation legislation, used to regulate the Island's airport, airspace and aircraft registered here, matches the highest UK and European standards.
"Isle of Man-registered aircraft meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and the Island's Civil Aviation Administration has been fully audited by ICAO.
"However, the Metroliner aircraft involved in the tragic accident at Cork was actually registered in Spain, a basic fact of which your 'aviation analyst' seemed unaware. It operated under an Air Operators Certificate issued by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA).
"Spain and the UK are both members of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which regulates the aviation standards of member states. EASA states regularly 'ramp check' visiting aircraft, during which inspectors check aircraft documents, pilots' licenses, and the condition of the aircraft to ensure they are operating to international standards.
"The Isle of Man CAA has ramp checked Manx2 and UK airlines to ensure they are operating correctly and the UK CAA has also ramp checked Manx2 aircraft in the UK."
Mr Johnson concluded: "When people have lost their lives and loved ones, it is surely incumbent on the media to at least do its homework before engaging in speculation and innuendo that can only add to the distress and confusion of the families affected."
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