Angolan charter company releases passenger list for crashed aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Nov 20, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The charter company that operated an Antonov aircraft which crashed on 15 November has released a passenger list.

According to the list from Asa Pesada, the aircraft had some 57 people on board, including ten children, all of whom died in the accident. It took until 17 November to compile the list because seats on aircraft are often filled just prior to the flight by passengers paying in cash. The death toll released on Friday was the result of police investigations at the crash site and forensic reports, according to The Associated Press.

The cause of last week's crash has not yet been determined, although preliminary investigations have apparently indicated that there were problems with the aircraft's engines.

Angola has banned the use of all Antonov aircraft since the crash, a move that has been criticised by charter companies who claim it is costing them USD1m per day.

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