Airline involved in Cuba plane crash leaving 110 dead had “serious safety complaints”

Airline involved in Cuba plane crash leaving 110 dead had “serious safety complaints”
By Alexandra Coulton


110 people were killed on Friday when a Cuban-operated airliner crashed into a field after taking off from Havana airport.

The BBC reports three women survived the crash, which is being called Cuba’s deadliest air disaster in more than 30 years.

It is now being reported that the Mexican charter company who owned the plane has had a series of serious complaints against it.

The 39-year-old Boeing 737, which was being rented by EasySky, a Honduras-based LCC from Mexican Damojh company, was previously banned from Guyanese airspace last year after authorities found its crew were overloading luggage on flights in Cuba, according to the BBC. 

Mexican authorities said Damojh had permits needed to lease the aircraft and has passed its maintenance program.

A retired pilot also said on Facebook that another plane rented from the same company had briefly dropped off the radar for “unspecified reasons” while in Santa Clara in 2010.

Another pilot told Mexican newspaper, Milenio, he experienced several incidents at the same company including engine and electrical system failure.

Cuban authorities have launched an investigation into the crash and one of two black boxes has been recovered and is said to be in good condition.

SBS reports the Mexican government has announced its National Civil Aviation Authority will carry out an audit of Damojh airlines to help collect information to aid in the investigation and see if its operating conditions are still meeting regulations.

Armando Daniel Lopez, president of Cuba’s Institute of Civil Aviation, said it was routine for Cuba to rent planes under certain arrangements because of the country’s inability to purchase its own aircraft under US trade embargo.

According to reports from state TV the jet veered sharply to the right after leaving the runway.

Eyewitnesses Rocio Martinez said she heard a strange noise and saw the plane with a turbine on fire.

“It had an engine on fire, in flames, it was falling toward the ground,” she said.

Image source: Reuters 

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