A boss at a north airport has been suspended amid allegations he breached safety rules.
The senior member of staff at Islay Airport is the subject of an internal investigation by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial).
The company, which owns the airport, would not comment on the identity of the staff member or the nature of the allegations last night.
However, the Press and Journal understands that Islay Airport manager Duncan MacGillivray is at the centre of the probe.
One local source claimed that he had been accused of leaving the airport with another staff member at a time when a plane was due to land, and that this left the airport undermanned and in breach of fire safety regulations.
There are believed to be seven trained fire safety personnel at the airport.
Mr MacGillivray declined to comment on the claims when contacted by the Press and Journal.
Staff at the airport confirmed he was not at work last week and that they did not know when he was due to return.
Asked about the allegations, a Hial spokeswoman said: “I can confirm there is an internal investigation taking place involving a member of our team – you will understand that no detail or further comment can be made under that investigation has reached its conclusion.”
Islay Airport, which is about five miles from Port Ellen, operates flights to and from Glasgow, Colonsay and Oban.
In 1994, Prince Charles was on board a plane which overshot the airport’s runway and skidded into a ditch.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority would not comment on the allegations, but said: “All UK licensed aerodromes must have management systems and operational procedures in place which meet all regulatory standards, as set out in the law.
“The CAA works with aerodromes to ensure these standards are maintained and provides ongoing oversight and monitoring.”
