‍DALLAS — Italian regional carrier Sky Alps (BQ), headquartered in Bolzano, has to temporarily ground seven aircraft after a regulatory audit raised concerns that they were not correctly certified for maintenance.

The airline operates a fleet of around 14 De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops. Between February 26 and 28, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) conducted a regulatory audit of BQ’s Malta-registered aircraft and documentation, which revealed several maintenance certification non-conformities.

The regulator found deficiencies in the maintenance certification, which were not in accordance with European Union aviation rules. A maintenance technician was also found to have issued some certifications improperly, so ENAC decided to ban entry to the airport.

ENAC activated an “immediate suspension of flight activity” for seven of BQ’s aircraft and banned the implicated maintenance technician from accessing the airport. “For these aircraft, the service return may occur following the completion of appropriate corrective action,” the regulator added.

Stay connected at every stop along your journey! Get any Saily mobile data plan at 5% off with the code AIRWAYSMAG5 + up to 5GB free!