INVESTIGATIONS should soon reveal the actual causes of the deadly hot air balloon explosion that took place over Luxor on Tuesday. We need to know if the tragic accident that killed 19 passengers and injured two is caused by laxity in abiding by the safety standards or the inefficiency of the pilots or crews operating these flights or by any other factors. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the company possessing this balloon has been regularly inspected by the relevant authorities that registered no violations in its work. The Civil Aviation authorities also noted that the pilot had renewed his licence in January, which means he would have been tested and the balloon checked on that occasion. So, what could be the cause of the accident if not human error, especially given that there were no references to wrong timing or bad weather? Could it be something related to the fuel used? Or can it be attributed to the negligence and laxity that many governmental authorities have experienced since the eruption of the revolution two years ago? The tourism industry has already suffered deeply because of the state of unrest the country has endured for many months. The present government is not prioritising speedily restoring security and order to the country to revive this sector that used to be one of the State's main sources of foreign currency income. Instead, it seems preoccupied with changing the heads of different departments under the pretext of fighting corruption while actually strengthening the presence of the MB members in the body of the State regardless of their experience and efficiency. We could consider the accident as bad luck by naming other similar accidents taking place in the world, and this is the easy old way of escaping responsibility. However, if we are really serious about saving the tourism sector and restoring Egypt's reputation and position as a safe tourism resort, we must be serious and firm in rectifying all the errors associated with the accidents tourists repeatedly face on the highway, railways and balloon flights. It is hoped that suspending all hot air balloon flights will be more than just a procedure to calm local and foreign anger. But, it is a start to in ensuring enforcement of international standards in operating these balloons that first started in Egypt more than two decades ago.
