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Dear Readers,
We make a special effort here to record the facts as we receive them. At times, there may be error but we do try to use our best judgement at the time of posting, and will be glad to amend any details which are proved incorrect. Furthermore, even though we do not here discuss the human cost, we realize that losing anyone in an air accident is insurmountable tragedy to individuals, families and communities. We do extend our heartfelt sympathy to those whose loss we record here. "...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for..." us all.
Meditation XVII - (with apologies to) John Donne


2008/11/07

Mexico City Fatal Crash Update

Update:Thursday investigators found the "black box" voice recorder; the data recorder with navigation information was recovered on Wednesday. The boxes will be examined in the US. Rumors abound that the crash was not an accident.
Information released (In Spanish):
What: Learjet 45 flown by the Mexican government
Where: Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City
When: 04 NOV 2008
Who:Passengers included:
  • Mexican Secretary of the Interior Juan Camilo Mouriño, top aide to President Felipe Calderón.
  • José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos-former assistant attorney general and current head of the federal technical secretariat for implementing the recent constitutional reforms on criminal justice and public security.
  • Miguel Monterrubio, director general of social communications with the Interior Secretariat.
  • Arcadio Echeverría, coordinator of special events, office of the Interior Secretary.
  • Norma Díaz, director in the communications department of the Interior Secretariat.
  • Julio César Ramírez Dávalos, pilot.
  • Álvaro Sánchez, co-pilot.
  • Gisel Carrillo, stewardess.

Why: At 18:45, although the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency which the pilot acknowledged but never contacter Mexico Tower. The Learjet then crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.


United States investigators have been called in to help quell the rumors that the flight was sabotaged by drug cartels. Two investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration began working at the crash site on Tuesday night and the NTSB sent a team to investigate. Due to a history of government cover-ups, Mexicans don't believe the Mexican government will tell the truth about the cause of the crash.

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