Flags in front of the AUA headquarters at Vienna Airport (Photo: Jan Gruber).
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Hailstorm: AUA strongly rejects serious allegations

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In a disturbing incident that tests the integrity and security of Austrian Airlines, the company is facing serious allegations of manipulation.

According to a whistleblower, the Lufthansa subsidiary is said to have falsified pilot training files, which could potentially have serious consequences for flight safety. The Korneuburg public prosecutor's office has already launched an investigation and is poring over the relevant documents, while Austrian Airlines is vehemently protesting against the accusations and calling them a malicious slander.

The incident at Vienna Airport: A worrying signal

The incident began on June 9, 2024, when Austrian Airlines flight 434 from Palma de Mallorca landed in Vienna. The Airbus A320 was heavily damaged after flying through a thunderstorm cell during a thunderstorm, causing significant damage to the weather radar and cockpit windows. This landing attracted the interest not only of the passengers, but also of the relevant authorities, who immediately launched an investigation.

In the course of this investigation, a pilot made explosive allegations against those responsible for flight operations. The pilot stated that Austrian Airlines' internal documentation system had been manipulated to show that training sessions that had not been carried out had been completed. This was allegedly done to avoid training-related bottlenecks among the crew and could mean that the staff were not sufficiently prepared to use the weather radar.

Serious allegations and their consequences

The allegations are serious and may have far-reaching consequences. According to reports in the daily newspaper "Kurier", this could indicate that not only training courses were falsified, but that safety protocols are also being called into question. Specifically, it concerns regular refresher courses on the function of the weather radar, a crucial tool for safety during the flight. This information has also alerted the responsible supervisory authority, AustroControl.

It is reported that some pilots have made voluntary reports to draw attention to the abuses. However, this may not be enough to refute the allegations, as no official voluntary reports have been made to Austro Control.

Austrian Airlines has decided to take active steps against the allegations. In an official statement, the airline strongly rejected the accusations and stressed that it was cooperating with investigators. "We strongly reject the allegations raised on these issues and made by an anonymous person," said a spokesperson for the airline. In addition, the company has submitted all the necessary training certificates for review in order to prove its innocence.

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