Plane crash claims the life of Avion chairman

HAFTHOR Hafsteinsson, chairman of Avion Aircraft Trading tragically died yesterday (2 July) in a private aircraft accident in northern Iceland. He was travelling in the light aircraft with a long-term friend who remains critically injured.

David Masson, managing director of Avion Aircraft Trading reacted to the sad loss on behalf of the AAT team: “We will all remember Haffi for his good sense of humour, kindness and generosity. He was always the light of any gathering, a good father, husband and always there for those in need. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, lovely wife Hjördis and two beautiful sons Andri Pétur and Arnar Hugi.

Born in Iceland 1966, Haftsteinsson began his aviation carrier in 1987 in the cargo department of Eagle Air of Iceland and as a flight dispatcher with Icelandair. He was also a flight instructor at the same time.

He joined Air Atlanta Icelandic in 1991 as station manager in Africa and later Asia. He then served as a pilot on Boeing 737s and Lockheed L-1011s together with his duties as vice-president flight operations until 1998 when he was appointed vice-president sales and marketing and then chief executive officer in 2001.

He took a leading role in the growth of Air Atlanta Icelandic from a fleet of two aircraft when he joined 1991 to a group with a fleet of over 60 aircraft.

Hafsteinsson also served as chief executive officer of Aviation Services for the Avion Group from January 2005 – November 2006, before taking on the role of chairman.