The International Civil Aviation Organization says it will set up a task force to address 鈥済aps in the system鈥� in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 disaster.
Following an 鈥渆xtraordinary meeting鈥� with top officials from four international organizations in Montreal Tuesday, the ICAO said more needs to be done to ensure that all member states are providing accurate and timely intelligence when it comes to potential risks to passenger planes in their airspaces.
At a news conference after the meeting, ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin said the downing of flight MH17 was 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� and offered condolences to the family members of passengers and crew.
Flight MH17, carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members, was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine on July 17. One Canadian was among the passengers.
Tony Tyler, the CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said he was 鈥渁ppalled鈥� to see that the investigation at the crash site is 鈥渟till being hampered鈥� by those in control of the area.
He said passenger planes 鈥渟hould never be the target鈥� over conflict zones.
While all aviation officials at the news conference stressed that travelling by plane remains extremely safe, Tyler said the MH17 tragedy exposed some 鈥済aps鈥� in the system that need to be addressed.
Angela Gittens, the director general of Airports Council International, said some countries may not have the capability or willingness to provide 鈥渞obust intelligence鈥� when it comes to aviation risks.
The ICAO says all of its member states have been reminded of their responsibility to address any risks in their air spaces and inform the international aviation body.
