Flight School Makes Statement on Montpellier Arson Attack

As French police continue their investigation into an alleged arson attack on a flight school at Montpellier-Méditerranée International Airport (LFMT), the training organization that lost three of its aircraft in the May 20 incident this week issued a statement addressing the impact on its business. Last week, the Airways Aviation Group said it has incurred financial losses and disruption to operations as a result of the incident, for which it said it had no responsibility.

Three Diamond DA42 training aircraft were destroyed by fire, and several others were damaged, when an unidentified person or persons breached airport security in an attempt to destroy the company’s whole fleet. Airways Aviation said it is continuing to cooperate with the investigation while seeking “legal, contractual, and insurance remedies” for financial losses amounting to “tens of millions of euros” that have subsequently impacted other parts of its training operations in Europe and the UAE.

“For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the incident arise from, or relate to, any failure in the company’s safety management system, training governance, operational control, or regulatory compliance obligations,” the Dubai-based group said in its statement. “All approvals, oversight arrangements, and safety assurance processes applicable to approved training organizations remained in force, and the company has continued to engage proactively and transparently with regulators and the relevant competent authorities throughout.”