Skopje, 5 January 2024 (MIA) — Air traffic safety has not been violated or threatened, Civil Aviation Agency director general Tomislav Tuntev told MIA when asked to comment on the consequences of the Thursday incident in which national air navigation service provider M-NAV staff were attacked by intruders.

According to Tuntev, air traffic controllers are experienced professionals and experts who are very well aware of their responsibilities and duty to maintain safe skies.

In light of the recent developments, he said, Civil Aviation Agency inspectors were conducting an emergency audit to establish whether any safety and security systems were compromised.

After the audit was complete, Tuntev said, necessary measures would be taken and individual responsibility established.

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior said four people involved in the Thursday attack were called in for a police interview. Police were also searching for another four people connected with the attack.

According to a previous MoI press release, an employee identified by the initials B.N., together with several unindentified persons, had physically attacked P.B., E.K. and B.R., also employees of M-NAV, at their place of work.

Late Thursday evening, the government said that at its Jan. 9 session it would discuss ways to resolve the situation in M-NAV, including the dismissal all managers and management board members. mr/