§ Mr. BevanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the air accidents investigation branch will conduct a formal investigation into the circumstances in which the forward cockpit window of a British Airways BAe 1–11 was secured by means of non-specified bolts; what information he has as to whether the Civil Aviation Authority intends to investigate the incident; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe accident is the subject of a formal investigation by the Department's air accidents investigation branch. The role of accident investigation is deliberately separated from that of safety regulation, for which the Civil Aviation Authority has the statutory responsibility, to avoid a conflict of interest.
The AAIB will keep the CAA informed of any relevant findings. On 12 June, as a result of the AAIB investigation, the CAA issued a notice to owners-operators of BAe 1–11 aircraft concerning the windscreen attachment bolts.