Aviation officials to seek hold order vs owner of plane in Parañaque crash

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is seeking a hold departure order against the owner of a light cargo plane that crashed into a residential area in Parañaque City last Saturday.

 

CAAP head Ramon Gutierrez said the owner, initially identified as one Fidel Hembrador, has yet to come out following Saturday's incident that killed at least 13 people.

 

"Yan ang ni-request ko (It was what I requested)," Gutierrez said in an interview on dzBB radio Wednesday, when asked if he sought an HDO for Hembrador.

 

He said Hembrador has not cooperated so far in the investigation and has so far refused to face liability and culpability.

 

Gutierrez said their investigation so far showed the Beechcraft plane had no air operating certificate, raising the possibility it was operating as a "colorum" plane.

 

"Yung bumagsak na eroplano ay walang air operating certificate dahil ito ay private plane, na supposed to be ine-engage lang sa private flying. Pero mukhang nag-moonlight at based sa flight plan ginamit ang certificate ng Aviation Technologies Innovators," he said.

 

Further investigation showed the plane used ATI's hangar and repair facilities.

 

So far, Gutierrez said the owner of ATI surfaced and admitted having only a verbal agreement with Hembrador for the use of the hangar as they were close friends.

 

But he said ATI may still face sanctions because its certificate was used in the fateful flight.

 

"May pananagutan yan dahil sa flight plan ginamit ang pangalan ng ATI na siya ang certificate holder," he said.

 

Pilot error?

 

Gutierrez said they are still evaluating video footage from ATI to see if pilot error was behind Saturday's tragedy.

 

He also said they are still not discounting the possibility of possible faulty maintenance by ATI mechanics on the plane.

 

"Merong procedure na sinusunod ang Aircraft Accident and Inquiry Board, susundan nila yan," he said.

 

Video

 

Meanwhile, a report on dzBB radio said the CAAP has secured an amateur video of the crash.

 

The video was taken from a mobile phone, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported. — RSJ, GMA News