Reply: I am informed by both the Department of Civil Aviation and Air Mauritius Ltd that there have been two recent hard landing incidents at Plaine Corail Airport. The first incident occurred on 31 July 2025 on Flight MK 130, involving an ATR72-500 and the second incident occurred on 07 February 2026, involving an ATR72-600 aircraft. It is worth highlighting that Plaine Corail Airport is classified as a Category C airport due to its runway and meteorological conditions prevailing thereat and therefore, requires special pilot training. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that following the first hard landing incident, the Department of Civil Aviation initiated an investigation on 06 August 2025 in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation aircraft investigation requirements. The preliminary investigation revealed that the flight was subject to crosswind turbulences. The main contributing factor was the sudden crosswind associated with a windshear, hence causing the aircraft to land abruptly on the runway, resulting in the first bounce and thereafter, a second bounce which resulted into the hard landing. In regard to the second hard landing which occurred on 07 February 2026, I am informed that, while approaching the runway, the aircraft encountered a northerly crosswind associated with a light tailwind which destabilized the aircraft making it to lose consequent amount of energy and fall to the ground thus, resulting into a hard landing. Concerning the first incident which occurred on 31 July 2025, I am informed that the cockpit crew comprised a Captain with 9,124 Total Flight Hours, with over 5,000 Flight Hours on the ATR-type aircraft and a Copilot with 784 Total Flight Hours, out of which 600 Flight Hours are on the ATR-type aircraft. It is to be noted that both the Pilot and the Copilot were qualified and had the required experience to fly the ATR. According to the Department of Civil Aviation, the aircraft was being flown by the Captain assisted by the Copilot and the Copilot made the appropriate call for go-around in accordance with the standard operating procedures during the occurrence. However, the Captain stated that he had control of the aircraft and decided to land and this contributed in the hard landing. Consequently, the licence of the Captain was suspended by the Department of Civil Aviation. Regarding the second hard landing which occurred on 07 February 2026, I am informed that the Captain was a fully qualified instructor with 14,500 Total Flight Hours, out of which, 5,400 Flight Hours were on ATR-type aircraft. The Copilot had 13,300 Total Flight Hours, out of which 4,750 Flight Hours were on the ATR-type aircraft. Moreover, a preliminary investigation by the Department of Civil Aviation, revealed that the Pilot and the Copilot were sufficiently experienced to manage the flight in unfavourable weather conditions as per the standard operating procedures of the Department of the Civil Aviation. As regards part (b) of the question, I am informed that standard company procedures, approved by the Department of Civil Aviation, were followed to ensure passenger safety. After both landings, the aircraft taxied to their designated parking areas uneventfully and passengers were disembarked normally. As part of the procedure, the Captains reported the parameters of the landings, which were conveyed as hard landings as the landing limits had been exceeded. I am further informed that as remedial actions and to ensure the safety of passengers as well as its crew, both aircraft were thoroughly inspected and repaired before returning to service. Furthermore, crew training has been intensified and Air Mauritius Ltd increased the percentage of simulations for Plaine Corail Airport. In addition, based on the recommendations made by the Department of Civil Aviation, Air Mauritius was requested to amend its operation manually to ensure that unfavourable meteorological conditions in relation to crosswind, tailwind and gusts are properly highlighted with a view to minimising the risk of similar incidents from reoccurring in the future. I seize this opportunity to reassure the House and the passengers travelling to and from Rodrigues that Air Mauritius Ltd has classified the airport of Rodrigues as a Category C aerodrome. This means that particular attention is given to the training provided to pilots operating the ATR72 aircraft to Rodrigues. Several restrictions and requirements are in place including, special simulator training leading to a specific rating for daytime landing in Rodrigues and additional simulator training leading to a specific rating for night landings in Rodrigues. Furthermore, only Captains are permitted to perform landings in Rodrigues at night. These measures are implemented to ensure the highest level of safety for operations to and from Rodrigues. No pilot is allowed to fly to Rodrigues unless he has completed all required training and checks. The construction of the new runway at Plaine Corail airport will significantly enhance air connectivity of Rodrigues Island by enabling the airport to accommodate larger aircraft. Consequently, Air Mauritius will be able to operate narrow body aircraft to Rodrigues, with a seating capacity of around 200 passengers, thereby increasing passenger capacity and improving its services to Rodrigues. CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO –MALDIVES POSITION & DIPLOMATIC IMPLICATIONS