Press Releases 08
United States Commemorates its Veterans
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, November 12, 2008 - “I have been in regular
contact with the leader of the National Transportation and
Safety Board team and spoke with him today. He will leave
Mexico tomorrow to return to the United States. He confirmed
to me that, as of today, nothing in the flight data recorder,
cockpit voice recorder, or the other evidence recovered at
the scene of the tragic crash indicates sabotage or criminal
activity caused the crash. The preliminary phase of the investigation
has concluded, but NTSB will continue to assist the Secretariat
of Communications and Transportation’s General Directorate
of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) in examining evidence and running
simulations to try better to understand exactly what happened.
“Our NTSB team leader told me his experts and the other accident
investigators from Mexico, the U.S. and the United Kingdom
worked as one team under the leadership of the DGAC. He left
deeply impressed with the quality of investigation the DGAC
has conducted. Our investigators had full access to the site,
starting the morning after the crash, and worked hand-in-hand
with their Mexican counterparts to conduct a thorough, professional
investigation.
“As soon as the Government of Mexico contacted us about the
crash, we worked here in Mexico and in Washington to assemble
the best crash-site investigators the U.S. had to offer, led
by the NTSB. The NTSB investigated more than 2,000 aviation
accidents (most of them minor) last year in the United States,
and dozens of major accidents in other countries involving
U.S.-manufactured planes or parts, under longstanding international
agreements.
“In each case, they examine the airworthiness of the aircraft,
flight operations of the pilots and air traffic control, and
weather conditions to determine the probable cause of the
accident and make recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
They review the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, collect
all the physical evidence they can, document the crash site
and analyze the wreckage, motors, and other parts of the plane.
In this case, they worked closely under the direction of the
DGAC, which has complete control of the investigation. Though
all U.S. investigators have left Mexico, they will continue
to coordinate with the DGAC and will return if needed.
“I have been impressed with the transparency the Government
of Mexico has brought to this investigation. Secretary Tellez
has provided regular, detailed reports through the media.
The preliminary evidence indicates the crash was a tragic
accident; we must now all await the final conclusions of the
General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics.” |
