Judicial Consideration of Aviation Safety v. Commercial Gain: The Major Blue Air Case UAHG000202-23 - Air and Space Law View Judicial Consideration of Aviation Safety v. Commercial Gain: The Major Blue Air Case UAHG000202-23 by - Air and Space Law Judicial Consideration of Aviation Safety v. Commercial Gain: The Major Blue Air Case UAHG000202-23 49 3

The occurrence of an aviation accident leading to two fatalities cast a dark cloud in the aviation industry in Botswana. Two international tourists who had visited Botswana met their untimely demise when the aircraft they were transported in, crashed, and burst into flames. In the exercise of its regulatory powers, the civil aviation authority grounded the airlines. A major court case was launched in the High Court of Botswana where the regulatory powers of the civil aviation authority were put to the test. The High Court affirmed the civil aviation authority’s regulatory powers noting that the ‘scales of justice cannot tilt in favour of commerce as opposed to loss of human life which is inviolable’.

Air and Space Law