Human error caused death of defense minister of Ecuador

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-01-2007 14:35

QUITO, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Human error caused the air accident that killed Ecuador's Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva last week, head of the committee investigating the accident Leonardo Barreiro said on Wednesday.

Larriva, her 17-year-old daughter and five military staff died on Jan. 24 in a mid-air collision between two Gazelle helicopters 390 km southwest of Quito.

The 31-strong investigating team, which included military experts, foreign researchers and representatives of the Socialist Party, ruled out sabotage or technical failures in the accident, Barreiro told the media.

"We are working hard to make copies of the 1,200-page document," he said.

The results of the investigation will be delivered to the joint command of Ecuador's armed forces, who will transfer the document to the Defense Ministry and the palace of the government, he said.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa told reporters on Tuesday that investigators had completed their work.

Once the report reaches his desk, he will form an evaluation committee to establish blame and begin to try the guilty at courts, the president said.

Shortly after the accident, the French makers of the two helicopters' engines ruled out a technical fault, saying the motors had been working at the time of the collision.

Acting Defense Minister Ricardo Patino said on Friday that a military report unveiled a series of mistakes with the planning, operation and security of the helicopters' flight.

The government sacked army chief Pedro Machado following the crash, blaming him in part for the helicopter crash.

Larriva, 50, was a former Socialist Party leader, and died after just nine days as the country first ever woman defense minister.

Editor:Du Xiaodan