Talofa Airways (Apia Faleolo) has suspended flight operations following an incident at Apia Faleolo, Samoa on April 25 when one of its two Turbo Commander 690B's brakes overheated on landing.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Samoa subsequently directed the airline to suspend flights pending an investigation into the incident, expected to take at least two weeks.
"The pilot worked the brakes, just enough to help counter the engine but the brakes overheated and burned. These things happen, no airline around the world is immune to these unexpected events," CEO Toleafoa Hunter told the Samoa news.
Talofa Airways' other 690B, 5W-TAL (msn 11526), suffered an undercarriage collapse on landing at Pago Pago in January of this year.
"We are still looking at a replacement plane for our second aircraft as this is what happens with a one-plane operation," Hunter added.
Talofa Airways had offered regular flights to Pago Pago (American Samoa) and Tongatapu (Tonga).