NTSB To Assist in Mexican Learjet Crash

The U.S. NTSB is assisting Mexico’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) in the investigation into the crash of a chartered Learjet 25 that claimed the life of Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera early Sunday morning. The twinjet disappeared from radar just minutes after it took off from Monterrey, Mexico, at 3:15 a.m. local time following her concert there, for a flight to Toluca. [Read more…]

Appeals Court Clears Continental in Concorde Crash

A French appeals court has overturned the manslaughter verdict against Continental Airlines resulting from the July 2000 crash of an Air France Concorde soon after takeoff from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The initial ruling held Continental liable for the accident on the grounds that maintenance errors caused a 16-inch piece of titanium to fall from one of the U.S. airline’s DC10s during its takeoff roll just moments before the Concorde’s. [Read more…]

Decriminalization of Aviation Accidents Has a Ways To Go

When it comes to decriminalization of aviation accidents, the world seems to take one step forward and two back.

On one hand, a French appellate court recently overturned the manslaughter verdict against Continental Airlines resulting from a crash more than a decade ago. The initial ruling held Continental liable for the July 2000 accident on the grounds that maintenance errors caused a 16-inch piece of titanium to fall from one of the airlines DC-10s during its takeoff roll from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. [Read more…]