Venezuela's State Airline Standing Down For Two Weeks Following Accident Monday

The Venezuelan state airline Conviasa released a statement Thursday saying they would be suspending all flight operations in the wake of an accident Monday which fatally injured 17 people.

File Photo

The airline grounded its fleet as of midnight Friday, and will not resume operations until midnight October 1, 2010. The airline said during that time, it will "conduct a comprehensive technical audit and evaluate the protocols and procedures in use."

The statement said passengers holding tickets during the period would be re-booked on other airlines at Conviasa's expense. Airline officials said they would also be paying close attention to the "emotional health" of the company's staff, particularly air crews.

The move was prompted by an accident Monday in which an ATR-42 went down near a steel mill near Puerto Ordaz. Fox News reports that in a second incident Thursday, a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing at Caracas when an indicator light in the cockpit signaled a technical problem. That airplane was inspected by the Venezuelan Air Safety Board.

"In the course of this audit technique, and as a result of this, we will take steps to ensure optimal service delivery," the airline statement said.

FMI: www.conviasa.aero, www.inac.gov.ve/home.php