TezJet Licence Revoked After MD-83 Gear Collapse Triggers Safety Audit

The State Civil Aviation Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic has revoked the operating licence of domestic carrier TezJet, effective immediately, after an unscheduled safety audit uncovered what regulators described as "gross violations" of national aviation legislation that directly jeopardized flight safety. The agency said the findings left it no option but to annul the carrier's Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

The audit was triggered by a July 7 incident at Manas International Airport (UCFM) in Bishkek, where a TezJet MD-83 suffered a main-gear collapse while taxiing for departure on a flight to Osh. All 181 people on board escaped without serious injury. Investigators found, however, that the audit's findings extended well beyond that single event, pointing to systemic failures across the carrier's operations rather than an isolated mechanical failure.

In a broader enforcement response, the agency has ordered mandatory unscheduled safety audits for all remaining Kyrgyz airlines, warning that the strictest administrative measures will be applied to any operator found posing a threat to flight safety regardless of market position. The crackdown comes as Kyrgyzstan works to preserve its standing following the recent removal of its certified carriers from the European Union's Air Safety List.