Even as they started their work, aviation authorities investigating the crash that killed Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo last week admitted Thursday their task will not be easy.

 

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines head William Hotchkiss said they will have to send the plane's engine overseas for analysis, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported Thursday.

 

"We'll have to send it to an expert outside the country before we can render a judgment," Hotchkiss said in an interview, parts of which were aired on dzBB Thursday morning.

 

For now, Hotchkiss said a three-member team formed by the CAAP is focusing on whether the crash was the result of engine trouble or human error.

 

Earlier, the CAAP suspended Aviatour, the owner of the Piper Seneca small plane that crashed off Masbate while en route to Naga City from Cebu.

 

Killed in the crash were Robredo, pilot Jessup Bahinting, and Nepalese co-pilot Kshitz Chand.

 

Robredo's remains were retrieved from the plane Tuesday, while those of Bahinting were recovered Wednesday. Search operations were to resume for Chand on Thursday. –KG/HS, GMA News