The Canadian government has suspended the operating certificate of West Wind Airlines after the crash of one of its ATR 42 airliners near a remote Saskatchewan airport that injured 25 people. Transport Canada ordered the Saskatoon-based carrier to cease operations after its inspectors found unspecified deficiencies in the way the business was being run. The company had already voluntarily stopped flying after the crash. The regulator said its inspection of the airline’s operations last week revealed issues with its operational control system, which ensures compliance with regulations regarding the scheduling of aircraft and personnel. Transport Canada said the suspension was ordered to ensure public safety. It did not detail the deficiencies it found.
West Wind said in a press release that it intended to resume flying. “We are working diligently to resolve any issues, with the aim of restarting operations as soon as possible,” the release said. The French-made regional airliner was on a flight from Fond du Lac, near the border with the Northwest Territories and Stony Rapids, and crashed shortly after takeoff. No one was killed but several people were seriously hurt. Passengers had to free themselves from the wreckage before first responders and volunteers reached the crash site.
