US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA8543

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 
------------------------------------ 
 
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 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
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