China grounds Gippsland GA8 Airvan aircraft

(ECNS) -- China’s civil aviation authorities have grounded all Gippsland GA8 Airvan aircraft after a crash in Sweden killed 9 people last week.

Early reports said the aircraft may have broken up during flight, yet the exact cause remains unknown.

The directive issued by Shenyang Aircraft Airworthiness Certification Center at the Civil Aviation Administration of China became effective immediately on Saturday.

The single-engine utility aircraft manufactured by GippsAero in Australia can seat eight including the pilot. 

Jinggong Air, a Chinese partner of the Australian manufacturer, has placed orders for 10 GA8 aircraft. It operates the small planes for sightseeing flights over the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing and Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang Province.