Palace: Let’s wait for CAAP probe results on Robredo plane crash

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said Tuesday, September 11, it would wait for the official report on the investigation on the August 18 plane crash off Masbate City that killed Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and 2 pilots, before commenting on the matter.

“The CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] is still conducting the investigation. We would like to hold off on any initial information,” Presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters on Tuesday.

“It would be best for all of us to wait until the CAAP itself releases the results of the… investigation,” she said.

Valte’s statement came after CAAP Deputy Director General Capt. John Andrews said there was no foul play in the crash.

“That remark that was made by Capt. Andrews, if I am not [mistaken], was personal opinion,” Valte said.

Andrews on Monday cited the initial results of the CAAP probe, saying that the incident was “an accident… Maybe an accident waiting to happen.”

He also said that they have ruled out any issues involving Kshitiz Chand, the Nepalese student pilot.

Andrews said the agency’s investigators are also looking at engine failure as a possible reason for the crash. He said they will check each part of the engine of the ill-fated 6-seater Piper Seneca plane to determine if the crash was due to technical or mechanical problem.

“That is the only issue I think that we’re going to be concentrating on now – why the engine quit,” the official said. – Rappler.com