adminMAPUTO. — Mozambique Airlines (LAM) has expressed its “deep concern and shock” at the findings of the November 29 air crash, which were released by the authorities showing that the pilot destroyed the plane on purpose. LAM issued a Press release on Sunday night, saying the company “will request the detailed report which shows and proves the facts leading to the preliminary conclusions,” and it will continue to “co-operate fully with the investigating authorities.”
The preliminary report announced by the Institute of Civil Aviation of Mozambique indicated that the disaster, which killed all 33 passengers including one Chinese on board, was caused deliberately by the pilot, Herminio dos Santos, since the altitude selector was manually altered three times and such operations required detailed knowledge of the plane’s controls, showing a clear intention to crash the aircraft.
“We are not authorised to answer the questions related to the accident right now, and later we will organise a media conference about the accident findings, “one of the workers at LAM’s Press team for TM470, who refused to give his name, told Xinhua in a telephone interview.
Some media reported that the pilot had 9 053 flight hours, of which 1 395 as a captain and his licence was renewed in April 2012.
The preliminary report has serious implications for LAM’s insurance.
Insurance experts interviewed by the country’s independent television station STV said that aircraft insurance does not cover premeditated acts of violence, whether caused by terrorist groups, or by the pilot.
If the findings of the preliminary report are confirmed, proving that the pilot chose to destroy the plane, and no mechanical malfunction was involved, then the insurance companies are freed of their obligation to pay compensation to the families, nor LAM for the lost plane, which means the entire burden would be put on the shoulders of LAM.
Meanwhile, a British Airways airplane carrying 202 people struck an office building at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport with its wing while taxiing for take-off late on Sunday, slightly injuring four, aviation authorities said.
The Boeing 747-400 en route for London Heathrow Airport took a runway that was too narrow for the plane, said South African Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman Phindiwe Gwebu yesterday.
“This resulted in the aircraft’s right-hand wing impacting the office building,” she told AFP.
The control tower “told them to take one taxiway and they took another one. They took a wrong one,” said Gwebu.
Four people inside the building were lightly injured, but the 185 passengers and 17 crew on board were unharmed during the late-night accident, according to the CAA. — AFP/ Xinhua.
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