West Caribbean Airline's August 16 accident

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 008543

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR CO
SUBJECT: West Caribbean Airline's August 16 accident



1. Summary. On August 16, a Colombian airliner operated by
West Caribbean crashed in Venezuela along the Colombian
border during its flight from Panama to Martinique. All 152
passengers and eight crew members were killed aboard the MD-
82 aircraft. End Summary.


2. In the early hours of the morning on August 16 Captain
Omar Ospina radioed the control tower in Maiquetia,
Venezuela saying that neither of the plane's turbines were
functioning. Ospina also requested the locations of nearby
airports. The aircraft was descending rapidly and the
captain said that the plane was out of control. Contact was
lost prior to the crash.


3. Although there is much rumor and speculation, no one is
exactly sure what caused the accident. The French civil
aviation authorities will be examining the two black boxes
from the plane, although Venezuelan authorities are
currently in possession of them. Fernando Sanclemente,
director of the Colombian Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA),
announced that all West Caribbean flights will be cancelled
until a thorough examination of the airline is completed.

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History of West Caribbean's Troubles
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4. West Caribbean began to have financial troubles in the
beginning of 2005. According to "El Tiempo", Colombia's
leading daily newspaper, the airline's ridership dropped
significantly after an accident on the Colombian island of
Providencia killed nine passengers in March 2005.


5. In May the CAA initiated a thorough investigation of
West Caribbean. Ten of the airline's twelve aircraft failed
to meet Colombian flight safety standards. As a result, all
but two planes in West Caribbean's fleet were immediately
grounded. Concerned about the continued liquidity of the
airline, the Superintendence of Ports and Transportation
proceeded to take control of West Caribbean and demanded
that its owners present a plan showing how it would
eliminate its growing debt and become profitable over the
long term.


6. In July West Caribbean presented a plan detailing
financial operations through 2012, showing how its financial
debt would slowly be eliminated. The government accepted
the plan, and required that the airline provide an update
every three months to ensure that it was meeting its
projected goals.


7. As part of the liquidity plan, West Caribbean had
planned on bringing an additional plane into service that
met the CAA's safety standards by the end of August. An
additional plane was to be introduced in September. After
the August 2005 crash the future of the airline's additional
planes, as well as the future of the company itself, is in
question.

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Preventative Measures Taken to Ensure Flight Safety
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8. Safety Inspections: Since the beginning of the year, West
Caribbean has received 56 on-ground inspections, 52 in-
flight examinations, two headquarters visits, and six
satellite office inspections. The quantity of inspections
has exceeded the minimum requirements. Captain Consuegra,
CAA Secretary of Air Safety, affirmed that any aircraft
failing to meet all of the Colombian flight safety standards
are immediately grounded, although he did not say how many
had been grounded recently.


9. Accident Aircraft Inspection: CAA Assistant Director
Colonel Carlos Montealegre stated in a press briefing that a
meticulous inspection of the accident aircraft had been
performed by the CAA immediately before the plane left its
Medellin headquarters for Panama. At 8:30 PM on August 15,
a CAA inspector found that the airplane met all of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) flight
safety standards.


10. Crew Rest: During the 11-hour operation of the aircraft
on August 15 and 16, three sets of flight crews were used.
The CAA verified that all had complied with international
standards concerning crew rest.


11. Sufficient Fuel: Consuegra stated that the airplane
had more than adequate fuel for all flights taken.


12. Comment: After the August 16 West Caribbean crash and
the September 1 crash of a private plane that killed all
eight passengers, the CAA's flight safety standards are
under close scrutiny by Colombian politicians and the
public. CAA officials are confident in their flight safety
reviews, and that the ongoing accident investigations will
not uncover safety concerns that should have been identified
during regular inspections. Federal Aviation Administration
officials have been working closely with the CAA's Air
Safety division in order to improve compliance with
international safety standards (septel).


13. West Caribbean flights remain grounded.

Drucker