CAAP creates committee to look into Robredo crash

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) created a committee that will oversee investigations into the plane crash that killed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two others last August 18. 

The formation of the committee follows an order by Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas for an “exhaustive investigation” into the crash of the Piper Seneca plane, RP-C4431, that was supposed to fly Robredo from Cebu City to Naga before it crashed about 800 meters off the coast of Masbate province.

The committee will be chaired by CAPP Accident Investigation Board Chief Capt Amado Soliman. Members include Philippine Airlines senior vice president Capt. Beda Badiola, Retired Philippine Air Force (PAF) Gen Ramon Ragasa, Cebu Pacific director for safety Felipe Timola Jr and Col Allen Paredes, also of the PAF.

The Special Investigation Committee was created by way of Authority Order 223-12 issued by CAAP Director General William K Hotchkiss, August 27.  

The order also called for the formation of 4 support groups (human factor group, airframe/structure group, powerplant group and the aircraft systems group), tasked to assist the committee in performing a crash site investigation, and collating and analyzing evidence related to the accident. – Rappler.com