THE DOMINICAN Republic has asked the USA for help in investigating the 6 February crash of a Boeing 757 into the sea just north of the island.
The aircraft, chartered by Dominican carrier Alas Nacionales from Turkish airline Birgenair, was climbing through 7,000ft (2,000m) after a night take-off from Puerto Plata on 6 February when the crew called approach control to report that it was returning to the airport, completing the message with the instruction, "stand by".
There were no more messages from the Turkish-registered airliner before it plunged into the sea some 20km (11nm) north of Puerto Plata, killing all 176 passengers and 13 crew, according to officials of the Dominican civil-aviation authority.
The US Federal Aviation Administration says that it has been invited to participate in the investigation, and that the US National Transportation Safety Board will be the "lead agency".
The 757, first registered in February 1985, was being flown to Berlin and Frankfurt in Germany, with a stop at Gander, Canada. Weather at take-off was reported as light rain. UK-based insurance broker NHK International dismisses early German reports that the aircraft is not insured.
It is only the second fatal crash of a 757 since the type entered service in 1983. The first occurred to an American Airlines aircraft in December 1995, when it hit a mountain in Cali, Columbia on approach.
Source: Flight International
