| NTSB Report Cites Mechanical Problems in TOA Flight 232 |
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| Written by Marilyn Brecques, The Star Harbor Astronomer | |
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National Transportation Safety Board investigators say they have conclusively pinpointed faulty regulator valve parts in all four engines as the cause of the early morning crash of Transoceanic Air Flight 232, allaying initial fears of a lengthy inquiry. The report, issued just one day after the crash, also firmly rejected any possibility of sabotage, claiming the ultimate cause of the engine failure was "human error." The report stopped short of naming any particular person or agency responsible. Pilot Jeffrey Martin was commended by the investigators for managing to keep the doomed aircraft aloft long enough for superhuman intervention. Martin downplayed his role in averting the tragedy, saying "A plane without engines is basically a big glider. It's got to come down sooner or later. I just made sure it was later." Federal Aviation Administration head Gerald Coates said he is satisfied with the findings, and promised widespread inspections to prevent any similar accidents. In a correction to an earlier story, a member of the flight crew did not resign as a result of her experience. Twenty-two year old flight attendant Maya Haigh had in fact given her employers two weeks notice, thirteen days before the near-fatal flight. According to a spokesperson for Transoceanic Air, she had been with the company for less than a month. Ms. Haigh could not be reached for comment. Portions of this story were contributed by The Associated Reporters. |
