Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia's defense minister says a plane crash that killed 71 people in Colombia was "murder" because the pilot only had the exact amount of fuel needed for the flight in violation of civil aviation principles.
The Bolivia-based LaMia airline flight was carrying a Brazilian soccer team to the Copa Sudamericana tournament's finals when it crashed outside Medellin on Nov. 28. Six people survived.
In a recording, the pilot is heard radioing to the control tower that he is out of fuel. Investigations continue, but authorities say he ignored international rules on fuel reserves.
"What happened in Medellin was murder because anyone who dares take passengers, more than 70 people, with the exact amount of fuel is clearly violating the most basic protocols of civil aviation," said Defense Minister Reymi Ferreira.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
