KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) could be fined CNY22'000 (USD3'586) by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) over allegations it had operated an aircraft with an expired certificate of airworthiness earlier this year.

China's WCARN news portal states CAAC intends to sanction the Dutch carrier for deploying a B747-400, PH-BFF (msn 24202), on its Amsterdam Schiphol to Beijing Capital flight on May 12 of this year despite the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness having expired on April 4, 2014.

This is CAAC's first pecuniary sanction against a foreign carrier this year.