Herman De Wulf/BELGIUM
The Belgian minister of defence, Jean-Pol Poncelet, has ordered a ban on air shows at Belgian military airfields, pending a forthcoming inquiry into safety precautions and local emergency procedures.
The decision, which effectively puts an end to all air shows in Belgium, follows the crash of a Royal Jordanian Falcon-operated Extra 300 at the Ostend air show on 26 July, in which nine people were killed and another 57 injured.
The accident happened when the aircraft stalled during a series of low-altitude, high-speed rolls, causing it to crash near one of the public enclosures. According to Belgian law, the owner of an airfield may be held responsible for on-site accidents, and Belgium's Flemish regional government, which owns and runs Ostend Airport, is facing estimated damages of Bfr600 million ($16 million).
A legal battle over responsibility for the crash is now ensuing between the Flemish regional government, the private company which organised the show and the insurers of the Royal Jordanian Falcons aerobatic display team.
In an attempt to protect its interests, the defence ministry has cancelled three forthcoming Belgian air shows: at Moorsele on 23-24 August, at Weelde on 30-31 August and at Florennes on 2-3 September.
The ministry fears that its military airstrips lack adequate accessibility for quick evacuation of victims in the case of accidents.
Source: Flight International
