China's aviation regulator has suspended privately owned Okay Airways from adding new flights and introducing new aircraft, and ordered it to cut down flying hours, after its cargo plane veered left off runway at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on April 27.

The runway excursion happened on April 27 as Boeing 737-300 cargo plane (Registration B-2117) performing flight BK3024 was taking off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which classified the case as a "serious incident", said improper pilot response was blamed in the incident. The Tianjin-based carrier was demanded to improve its safety and training to effectively control operational risks and eliminate safety hazards.

In line with the relevant provisions, the aviation watchdog punished Okay Airways to suspend the application for adding new flights and introducing new cargo aircraft, ordered it to cut Boeing 737 flight schedules by 5 percent in 2016, according to a decision made by the regional aviation authority on May 5.

Meanwhile, the involved pilots have been temporarily banned from flying.

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