The Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) has activated the Contingency Mechanism for Aviation Emergencies immediately after an East Asia Airlines helicopter encountered an emergency landing accident at 12:00noon today (03 July). The Authority has already requested the operator to conduct a thorough fleet inspection and submit detailed information about the accident. In accordance with Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, an aircraft investigation is carried out by the state of occurrence. As the accident occurred in Hong Kong, the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong SAR (HKCAD) has started its investigation into the accident. Due to the fact that the aircraft was registered in Macao, Macao will provide all necessary information and assist in the investigation according to the request from HKCAD. The flight was carrying 2 crew members and 11 passengers, who were all rescued. There were no Macao residents. Only two passengers were sent to hospital in Hong Kong and did not sustain significant injuries. The helicopter was Italian made Agusta AW139. It was registered with number B-MHJ in Macao in 2009 and put into operation in the same year. Its Certificate of Airworthiness was renewed in February 2010.
