An Airbus technical team has concluded that the damage on the Airbus A320 which last month hit a pylon on the runway amounts to over $2 million.
The accident occurred when the plane's wing tip hit the structure as the aircraft was taxiing out of parking area two, on its way to the runway for take-off en route to Catania.
The pylon collapsed and ended up resting on the aircraft fuselage after the collision, which, it seems, occurred when the pilot was manoeuvring the plane between a Malta Air Charter helicopter and an Azzurra Air aircraft.
The plane's wing was damaged and, as a result, a fuel leak developed, to the extent that passengers were advised not to use their mobile phones and not to evacuate the plane before the area was secured.
No one was injured and the 27 passengers on board the A320 were flown to Catania some three hours later on another jet.
Aviation industry sources yesterday said the evaluation by Airbus technical staff estimated that the damage amounted to at least $2 million. "There is a possibility that the cost could be in the region of $2.5 million."
The sources said that Air Malta has given the green light to proceed with the necessary repairs. "Although it's very difficult to forecast how much a replacement would have cost because of different variables and options, the cost of repair is still significantly cheaper than replacing the aircraft. It's not feasible to scrap the plane."
It has also transpired that the Air Malta group will be carrying most of the financial burden of the accident. "Although the aircraft was insured, Air Malta has to pay an excess of $700,000. Besides, the aircraft was insured with a subsidiary company of the group, which means that most of the burden will have to be carried by the group itself."
The sources said that the accident would continue to put pressure on the group's financial situation. "It's not a secret that the group incurred huge losses in its last financial year. And the international airline industry is still going through a very rough patch. Obviously, such costs are an extra burden on a situation which was already difficult."
A number of investigations, including by Air Malta, a magisterial inquiry, the transport authorities and the airport company, were still underway.
The pilot, first officer of the flight as well as the marshal have been assigned other duties pending the outcome of the investigations.
The sources said this incident was a reflection of the culture which still prevailed at Air Malta. "You had a situation where the plane should not have been parked in such a zone and the passengers should have never been boarded from that area. The incident shows that there is still a problem with lack of adherence to procedures as well as lack of discipline."
Investigations are looking into whether the plane should have been moving under its own power or whether it should have been towed. The investigators are also trying to establish who was responsible for allowing passengers to board the plane in the area where the accident happened.