Panama’s Bocas Air grounded amid safety checks

Bocas Air (Panamá City Paitilla) has suspended flight operations following a directive from Panama’s civil aviation authority (Autoridad de Aeronautica Civil de Panamá – AACP).

A regulatory statement issued on March 16 said the move had come amid an ongoing investigation into an incident on March 12 wherein the rear baggage door on a Bocas Air Beech 1900D, HP1948BT (msn UE206), detached 20 minutes after take off from Panamá City Paitilla airport. The aircraft returned to the airfield for a safe landing.

Approached by La Prensa newspaper, former president Marvin Matthews declined to comment adding that he had disposed of shares in the airline “two months ago”.

Launched only last year, Bocas Air employs a fleet of Beech 1900Ds and offers charters as well as scheduled flights between Panamá City Paitilla, Bocas del Toro, and Changuinola.