The manager of a small airline that had a fatal crash on Vancouver Island two years ago is suing Transport Canada and three of its senior employees for defamation. Nikolas Todd Chapman claims the officials unjustly lifted his authority to act as the operations manager for International Express Aircharter the day after one of its aircraft, a Cessna Grand Caravan, crash landed in a logging clearing, killing the pilot and two of seven passengers. At the time, Transport Canada said Chapman “failed to fulfil his responsibility as operations manager to control the operations and operational standards of all aircraft operated by IAE.” Canada’s Transportation Safety Board later determined the crash was caused by an engine failure and Chapman claims in the suit that there’s no way he could have predicted or prevented it.
Chapman appealed Transport Canada’s decision to revoke his operating authority to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada, which sided with Chapman. Despite the ruling, Transport Canada has not reconsidered its decision and Chapman says that’s cost him money and damages. Transport Canada has not yet filed a statement of defense.
