Five staff was arrested over plan to cause great harm to passengers by putting leaves inside pilot tubes of ATR-72 from Air KBZ airline.

According to the statement, pre-departure inspection was made to airplane ATR-72-600 of airplane number (XY-AMP) from Air KBZ on August 12, 2021. The airplane was planned to fly Yangon-Heho- flight. Leaves were found from left and right sides of pilot tubes and so it was replaced with ATR-72-600 of airplane number (XY-AMO).

After takeoff from the Yangon International Airport, and 7 minutes of flying, when reaching at 4100 high, auto pilot system was failed and the flight was cancelled and returned to Yangon International airport. Upon checking the aircraft, leaves were found from left side of pilot tube. Therefore, pre-departure inspection was made to substitute plane of XY-AMN.  Leaves were also found on the left side of pilot tubes of the plane XY-AMN.

Concerning the case, investigations were made to people of suspection. According to the confession of line maintenance manager Thein Lin Htaik, Naing Lin Aung, who is still need to be arrested, phoned him to cause flights chaos by putting leaves inside the pilot tubes. Naing Lin Aung attended training course from Khin Kyaw (UNRA) who was a KBZ airline staff and involved in the CDM movement. Later, he told Nay Myo Shine and Yaza Win Naing about the matter and to pretend not knowing the matter.

According to Thein Lin Htaik’s confession, he met Nan Swan Khine aka Khaing Pi (B1 maintenance-3) from Air KBZ on August 5 and told him to put leaves inside the pilot tubes intending the mistrust on air KBZ and caused defamation. He also agreed to do what he had said.

On August 7, Thein Lin Htaik ordered Nan Swan Khine aka Khaing Pi to put leaves to the right side of pilot tube of XY-Amp and Naing Htet Aung to put leaves inside pilot tubes of XY-AMN and XY-AMP, it said.

Thein Lin Htaik put leaves to left side of pilot tube of XY-AMO and also to left side of pilot tube of XY-AMP on August 8 at 15:35. He also planned to lose bonnets at the wheels and engine power levers.

Putting leaves inside pilot tubes may cause lose control of altitude and may cause big disaster to airplane and its passengers, it said.