Roxas to CAAP: Conduct thorough investigation of plane crash

Thursday 23rd of August 2012

MANILA, Aug. 23 (PIA) -- Transport Secretary Mar Roxas has ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to conduct a thorough investigation of the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane that carried Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo enroute to Naga over the last weekend.

In a statement, the DOTC said that CAAP formed a composite team to serve as the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board headed by Captain Amado H. Soliman, an aviation industry expert in flight safety for over four decades, Captain Ramon V. Flores, and Captain Elmer F. Pena.

CAAP Director General William Hotchkiss III said a suspension order has been issued by CAAP grounding all aircraft used by Aviatour Air pending result of the full-blown investigation.

He added that CAAP was among the government agencies that readily mobilized their unit last Sunday, immediately sending the CAAP Go Team headed by Capt. Soliman together with Capt. Lorenzo Gumba and engr. Reyner Bucalinao to Masbate right after the plane crash accident to gather all information and facts that could shed light to the accident.

CAAP provided the coordinates of the possible location where the plane crashed within one nautical mile radius, an almost accurate grid where the plane was found later.

Hotchkiss said CAAP will keep the plane wreckage at Masbate airport under tight security. This will be thoroughly examined by the CAAP composite team to gather accurate data on the real cause of the plane crash last Saturday. (DOTC/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)