By Fabian Hakalits – EM TV News, Port Moresby
PNG Accident Investigation Commission (PNGAIC) Chief Executive Officer, David Inau, says that a preliminary report will soon be released.
This is a requirement under the international Civil Aviation Organisation protocols of accident investigations.
Inau, speaking to EMTV News in an exclusive interview, says that enough information has been gathered for a preliminary report to be put together.
He also provided an updated report regarding the plane crash.
He said that the Britten-Norman Islander aircraft operated by Sunbird Aviation departed Oksapmin for Kiunga at 1356 local time on Wednesday April 13, 2016.
12 persons were on board: nine adults and three children, as well as an Australian pilot.
“A Britten-Norman Islander aircraft operated by Sunbird Aviation and registered P2-SBC departed Oksapmin for Kiunga at 1356 local time this afternoon with 12 persons on board, including the pilot.
On approach to land at Kiunga the aircraft crashed approximately 1,200 metres short of the threshold of runway 07,” Inau said.
Unfortunately all 12 on board died, including the Australian pilot. Their bodies are at the Kiunga District Hospital morgue, as part of the investigation process.
“If the people on board the aircraft are considered to be part of the accident, we would like to keep the bodies, and do the post mortem and then release them to other respective authorities,” Inau said.
A full investigation has commenced in accordance with international procedures and ICAO Annex 13, with the aircraft and engine manufacturers already contacted.
“Everything in the aircraft belongs to the state, in this case, the PNG Accident Investigation Commission. We take possession of everything and we start our investigation till we are satisfied that we gather the information we need, and then we release the aircrafts and bodies of the deceased, to authorities responsible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Inau explained why a black box isn’t fitted in smaller aircrafts.
“We would like all aircraft be fitted with the black box, but unfortunately according to laws, aircraft that are smaller in size, like the Britten-Norman Islander are not required to carry a black-box.”
