Real Tonga plane ordered to stop flying

Tonga’s Civil Aviation division has no legal authority to stop a domestic plane from operating.

Minister of Infrastructure, 'Etuate Lavulavu told Radio and Television Tonga News that despite a flat tyre to the Real Tonga plane at Kaufana Airport in Eua, the plane should not have been ordered not to fly.

The Solicitor General confirmed that Civil Aviation has grounded the plane.

However, the Minister said Government will wait 14 days for the engineer report before deciding on the fate of the Y12 aircraft. In the meantime, the plane will continue flying, said Minister Lavulavu.

Radio Tonga said the plane was empty when the incident happened at Kaufana Airport.

The Minister said the pilot informed him that the plane serviced four routes on Saturday before the accident.

The Y12 plane was gifted to Tonga from China and on lease to Real Tonga Airlines.

Attempts to get comments from Real Tonga Airlines were unsuccessful.