The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) clarified that it has found no evidence to corroborate the allegation that unqualified personnel from Pan Asia Pacific Aviation Services (Papas) were conducting maintenance checks on transit planes.

In an e-mail communique, CAD's public relations officer Stella Tse said a 'necessary investigation' has been conducted.

"In so far, there is no evidence to suggest that CAD has to take further action on the (CAD) approval issued to Papas," she added.

She said the matter should be referred to Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) here.

Papas, which is operating under the licence of CAD, performs transit and maintenance checks on planes belong to several key airlines , including Malaysia Airlines.

Passengers at risk

A former Papas engineer, who identified himself as KK Hui, had alleged that the safety of passengers were at risk because unqualified personnel were being instructed by the superiors to carry out the maintenance work.

In letters dated June 5 and 7 sent to malaysiakini and the DCA, Hui said that only engineers who passed a particular approval course, have the authority to perform rectification of defects in a given type of planes.

However, he claimed that the scenario was different with Malaysia Airlines planes.

According to him, qualified engineers are instructing their subordinates, who do not have the required approved licences to inspect such planes, to carry out the tasks instead.

During their checks, the subordinates also allegedly forge the signatures of the engineers in their inspection documents.

Papas has strongly denied the allegations.

Malaysia Airlines, along with Singapore Airlines, Garuda Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines, are key shareholders of Hong Kong-based Papas.

DCA airworthiness division director Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, who has been tasked with investigating the matter, could not be reached for comment. Malaysia Airlines is also conducting its own probe into the matter.