Weather, air traffic control ruled out in CAL crash.

Japan Transportation Scan, June, 2002

TAIPEI, May 28 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATES BODY COUNT, INVESTIGATION RESULTS)

A joint U.S.-Taiwan team investigating the fatal China Airlines crash over the Taiwan Strait on Saturday said Tuesday that weather and air traffic control can be ruled out as the cause of the disaster.

Kay Yong, managing director of Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council, said data from the Central Weather Bureau and a Japanese weather satellite showed clearly that ''weather was very good'' around the time of the crash Saturday afternoon.

''We also concluded that air traffic control mistakes can be ruled out,'' he said after the 52-member investigation team had its first formal meeting.

The team includes officials from the U.S. National Transportation...