Suriname’s US Embassy bans staff from using local Blue Wing Airlines due to safety concerns

US bans Suriname staff from using local airline

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — The U.S. Embassy in Suriname says it is barring staff from flying with the local Blue Wing Airlines due to safety concerns.

The U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo announced Monday it has prohibited the use of the small carrier for official domestic travel in the South American nation.

The announcement comes about three weeks after one of Blue Wing’s small planes crashed in rough weather, killing all eight people aboard. The twin-engine Antonov went down in a forest shortly after taking off from a small airstrip near Godo Holo.

Blue Wing reported a similar crash involving the same model in April 2008. Nineteen people died when that plane crashed as it approached an airstrip.

Airline officials were not available for comment.