The Civil Aviation Authority has announced it is yet to study a dossier which has apparently been compiled by Transport union SATAWU, blaming it for a string of aircraft accidents this year.

The Business Day newspaper yesterday reported that an aviation expert uncovered irregularities at the air safety watchdog in a four month investigation.

In the document, SATWAU has accused the CAA of being plagued by management squabbles, which it claimed contributed to the recent plane crashes.

The dossier has since been forwarded to Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele, who has promised to study it.

The CAA said 120 accidents occurred this year, as compared to close to 200 planes which crashed last year.

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ASSURES PUBLIC

Meanwhile, the Transport Department has announced there shouldn’t be any panic or thoughts that the country’s aviation industry is falling apart.

On Wednesday the Civil Aviation Authority grounded 14 SA Airlink aircraft following a number of incidents involving the airline in recent months.

The department said all the steps taken are necessary for passenger safety.

(Additional Reporting by Danya Philander)