Albanian Air Traffic Controllers absolved from any penal charges

On 29.3.2022 the Appeal Court of Tirana dismissed the prosecutors appeal on its judgement Nr. 2762.

All the charges brought forward by the Prosecutor Office against the three Air Traffic Controllers were dismissed by this court ruling. The judge insisted however that the prosecution continues to find the persons who were responsible for closing the airspace of Albania.

“The international Air Traffic Control Community welcomes this judgement as it gives certainty that the international aviation standards and European Law can be followed by professionals such as the air traffic controllers in Albania.” Says Mr. Frédéric Deleau, IFATCA Executive Vice-President Europe.

“Following this judgement which found the Albanian Air Traffic Controllers to be innocent, the European Air Traffic Controllers expect the employer Albcontrol, who has punished the concerned Air Traffic Controllers by withholding their salary and firing them while they were to be considered innocent during the ongoing penal proceedings, will have to take its responsibility for not respecting the legal system of Albania. We expect Albcontrol to immediately give the Air Traffic Controllers their employment back.” Says Volker Dick, President of ATCEUC.