UK firm to recover plane wreckage

Personnel from a United Kingdom-based airplane insurance company are expected to arrive in Namibia to close the chapter on the country’s second-biggest air accident, after a Mozambican passenger plane crash landed in the Bwabwata Transnational Park last year.

This was confirmed by the director of Aircraft Accident Investigation (AAI) in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Captain Erickson Nengola, who said the team will arrive in the country on Sunday to conduct a survey of the crash area and the eventual recovery of the wreckage.

According to Nengola, the decision to bring in the UK company, which is the insurer of the Embrear ERJ 190 belonging to the Mozambican airline LAM, was taken so as to avoid litigations that go along with plane wreckage removals, and to spare Namibia expenses running into millions of dollars.

 “Normally, whenever there’s a plane accident, those doing the recovery might find certain items such as body parts and other personal belongings that were not detected during the preliminary recovery and may lead to litigations,” Nengola said.

The British team, under the supervision of Nengola will first conduct a survey of the crash area to determine the best recovery routes, while taking into consideration elements such as the non-disturbance of the natural vegetation in the park

Nengola said the cost of wreckage recovery exercises normally depends on the multitude of the accident, which at this stage is unknown and will only be determined once the insurance company crew completes their work at the crash site.

With regard to the Namibian investigations team that is expected to travel to Mozambique to take a closer look at the affairs of the pilot of the Embrear ERJ 190, Captain Herminio dos Santos Fernandes, Nenegola said only two members from his division will travel together with delegations from various ministries, including that of the Ministry of Safety and Security.

In addition, Nengola said government has already identified two Namibian companies, one of which is currently securing the crash site, while the second will be tasked with the removal and storage of the wreckage.

In conclusion, Nengola warned Namibians to disregard press releases regarding the accident that are not issued from his office.

The Embrear departed from Maputo International Airport on a scheduled flight to Luanda, Angola before it crashed, killing all 33 people on board.

Source:   http://www.informante.web.na

NTSB Identification: DCA14RA018
Accident occurred Saturday, November 30, 2013 in Rundu, Namibia
Aircraft: EMBRAER ERJ190 - UNDESIGNAT, registration:
Injuries: 33 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. The foreign authority was the source of this information.

The Namibia Ministry of Works and Transport (MWT) has notified the NTSB of an accident involving an Embraer ERJ-190 that occurred on November 30, 2013. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the MWT investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 as the State of Manufacturer and Design of the engines.

All investigative information will be released by the MWT.