By Adelaide Sirox Kari – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The cockpit voice recorder from the sunken Air Niugini Boeing 737 is now at the PNG Accident Investigation Commission (PNG AIC) Laboratory in Port Moresby.
The Investigator in Charge from the Federated State of Micronesia (FSM), representatives from the US National Transport Safety Board and aircraft manufacturer Boeing 737, accompanied the black box on a flight to Port Moresby on Friday (October 5).
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Civil Aviation, Alfred Manase, says a preliminary report will be released by the end of the month.
The Minister accompanied by the FSM Investigator-in-Charge, CASA Director, Chief Commissioner of PNG AIC and Secretary of Transportation, in a media conference today said the investigation continues as the black box is currently in the laboratory for data to be downloaded.
The FSM Investigator-in-Charge, Massy Halbert, asked for patience as the investigation continues and a preliminary report will be released.
EMTV News asked the CASA Director if CASA would take into account, the passenger’s account of ‘not being able to find a life jacket on board the plane’ and the actions of the crew.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased Indonesian male was flown into Port Moresby today.
Air Niugini held a closed door memorial service on Friday, marking 7 days since the crash in Chuuk, to express sympathy towards the passenger who lost his life.
The memorial was attended by Air Niugini Management, staff and diplomatic corps; a media statement from the airline company stated that such memorial service was also observed by other Air Niugini’s domestic and international offices.
Meanwhile, during today’s media conference, the Civil Aviation Minister said that Air Niugini is fully cooperating with the FSM investigation.
