SUSPECTS, who put leaves in the pitot tubes of the Air KBZ aircraft to harm the innocent passengers, were arrested after an investigation.

On 12 August 2021, staff from Air KBZ conducted a pre-departure inspection of ATR-72-600 (flight number XY-AMP) before its journey to Heho from Yangon. As leaves were found in both of the pitot tubes of the aircraft, the flight was replaced with fight number (XY-AMO).

The XY-AMO had to return to Yangon International Airport seven minutes after take-off from the airport at an altitude of 4,100 feet due to a malfunction of its Auto Pilot System. During the necessary inspection of the aircraft, leaves were found in the left pitot tube, and hence, it was replaced with ATR-72-600 flight number XY-AMN. Again, leaves were found in the left pitot tube of the replaced aircraft while the pre-departure inspection.

After an investigation, Thein Lin Htike, line maintenance manager, was arrested. According to his confession, he was instructed by Naing Lin Aung, who attended the terrorist training in UNRA after participating in the CDM campaign, to put leaves in the tubes to disrupt the flights. He, then, told Nay Myo Shine and Yazar Win Naing about the leaves and pretend not to know.

On 5 August, Thein Lin Htike met with Nan Swin Khai (a) Khai Pee (B1 mechanic-3 officer) and instructed him to insert leaves in the tubes to discredit the airlines. He accepted the idea and he was instructed to insert leaves in the right pitot tube of the flight number XY-AMP. Naing Htet Aung was instructed to put leaves in the pitot tubes of flight number XY-AMN and XY-AMP.

Thein Lin Htike also revealed that he put leaves in the left pitot tube of the flight number XY-AMO and XY-AMP on 8 August. It was also revealed that the bolts in the aircraft wheel and nuts in the engine power lever were planned to reduce.

As inserting the leaves into the aircraft's pitot tubes could cause the aircraft to crash into the air at a minimum speed and cause serious damage to the innocent passengers and crew, arrested suspects will be taken effective action under the law and the related suspects will soon be identified and arrested.

MNA

#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar