The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published its report into a ""serious incident"" with an ATR 72-202(F) aircraft, which ""suffered significant electrical issues and loss of instruments on approach to East Midlands Airport."" The incident had occurred in January 17, 2023.
According to Airline Economics research, the aircraft was operated by dedicated cargo airline West Atlantic. A spokesperson for AAIB declined to confirm the operator. The company had received its first ATR 72 freighter aircraft on January 2021.
The electrical fault had caused the loss of co-pilots flight instrument displays and triggered a number of warnings and cautions. The aircraft was then diverted to Birmingham International Airport. The report found that a wiring defect had led to the malfunction and was ""probably caused by incorrect use of mechanical wire stripping tools at a third-party organisation.""
The report said: ""Action has been proposed by the equipment manufacturer and has been taken by the third-party maintenance organisation to promote the use of alternative tooling to prevent a reoccurrence.""
In September 2022, West Atlantic's 737-400 aircraft had left the runway and ""entered the grassy area"" after landing at France's Montpellier-Mediterranee Airport.
West Atlantic ATR 72-202 suffered ""significant electrical issues"", report finds
