'Near miss' investigation continuing

The investigation into the near miss involving an Air Malta aircraft and an Italian light aircraft has not yet been concluded, Communications Minister Censu Galea told Labour MP Evarist Bartolo yesterday.

He said investigators were looking into various sectors, such as whether the small aircraft had been detected by radar and whether it showed up on the radar screens of the air traffic controllers.

The minister said that a wing inspection to verify the amount of fuel the light aircraft was carrying had not been conducted as the pilot's declaration of an emergency was not doubted.

No Civil Aviation Department authorisation was needed for landing in Malta in case of emergency.

He said this was the only near miss incident in Maltese airspace this year.