Airnorth’s Embraer E190 VH-XFC flew a SpaceX recovery team to Christmas Island on 15 August for a crew change following Starship Flight 13’s splashdown in the Indian Ocean. According to the airline, Christmas Island is “one of the most complex destinations Airnorth plans and operates to”.

The charter and FIFO carrier requested a trading halt on Monday morning, to last until Wednesday or until an announcement is made about capital raising, following reports in The Australian Financial Review over the weekend that a plan may be in the works.

Detailed on the safety watchdog’s website, the report from an “experienced Air Traffic Controller” expresses concerns that the Sydney Terminal Control Unit (TCU) is “not ready to safely manage the impending complex airspace and procedure changes” implemented in July.

The airstrip in Balgo, located at the edge of the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts in the Kimberley region, received $3 million from the federal government and more than $3.65 million from the WA government to boost safety and reliability.