People
Hong Kong appoints chief air accident investigator
September 21st 2018
The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department has appointed Darren Straker as chief air accident investigator of its newly-founded Air Accident Investigation Authority, reporting directly to the city’s Transport and Housing Minister, Frank Chan Fan. Read More »
Straker, a New Zealand national and former pilot, was the UAE’s chief air accident investigator from 2012 to 2017. He has also worked in aircraft design and flight safety management at Airbus.
Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority was established following a recommendation from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Air accident investigations were previously conducted by the director of the Civil Aviation Department, but this raised criticism from industry professionals who suggested civil aviation authorities might not be objective enough if accidents were the fault of their own staff.
