Aviation News, Headlines & Alerts
 
Category: <span>Learjet</span>

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Macedonian Prime Minister’s Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Zurich

A Learjet 60 plane, carrying Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, made an emergency landing in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 21.

Prime Minister Gruevski was returning to Skopje from Strasbourg when his jet had to make an emergency landing due to technical issues. According to a government spokesperson, “The (technical) failure manifested as a strong noise, from an unknown origin, and it was followed by perturbation of the cabin pressure,”

The plane landed uneventfully. Everyone aboard remained unhurt.


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U2 Singer Bono in Mid-Air Scare

U2 singer Bono had a midair mishap on November 12 when the luggage-compartment door of his private Learjet 60 fell off over Germany.

The incident happened when rockstar was on his way from Dublin to Berlin, to perform at the Bambi Awards.

The plane landed safely at the Berlin Schonefeld Airport at around 12:26 a.m. Besides Bono, there were 4 passengers and 2 pilots in the plane. None of them was harmed.

Germout Freitag, from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, said, “The ground crew realized the door was gone and two suitcases had fallen out…Officials have not yet located the two suitcases or the hatch door, but they have been able to pinpoint the area where they are likely to have landed by the radar.”

The cause of accident is under investigation.


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Prominent Pastor Myles Munroe, Wife Killed in Bahamas Plane Crash

A private Lear 36 Executive aircraft crashed near Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, Bahamas, on November 9.

The aircraft, which took off from Nassau with 9 people aboard, crashed at around 5 p.m. Authorities said that it struck a shipping container crane while it was trying to land in heavy rain.

According to Ministry of Transport and Aviation, “The Department of Civil Aviation has been advised unofficially that the aircraft was destroyed and that there were no survivors.”

The deceased include a prominent Bahamian pastor Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth.

The cause of accident remains under investigation.


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Small Plane Returns to Van Nuys Airport

A private Learjet aircraft had to return to Van Nuys Airport, Los Angeles, California, shortly after it took off on the morning of November 3.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Ian Gregor, the pilot was forced to return after a gear indicator turned on.

The plane circled over the airport before it safely landed before 8 a.m. No one was injured.

The plane is registered to Glenbrook Capital Logistics of Wilmington, Delaware.

2 Presumed Dead after Civilian Plane and Fighter Jet Collide Mid-air in Germany

plane crashA military-chartered jet and a German Eurofighter aircraft collided mid-air in western Germany.

Police officials confirmed that the Learjet had two people on-board when it collided with the fighter plane on June 23. They also revealed that both aircrafts were hit on the wing and the fuselage.

The Learjet caught fire and crashed into a forested area in Sauerland region; both on-board have been presumed dead. The fighter jet was also badly damaged but it was able to land on its base in Norvenich near Cologne.

Joerg Langer, a spokesperson of German military, said there had been a contact between a Eurofighter jet and a Learjet. He also confirmed that the Eurofighter landed safely.

The Learjet was operated by an Airbus Defence and Space’s subsidiary, Gesellschaft für Flugzieldarstellung” (GFD), which assists German military in maneuvers.

It is believed that the Learjet was involved in a training exercise along with two Eurofighters, one of which was involved in the accident.

Learjet Makes Emergency Landing at Victoria International Airport

Learjet

A Learjet plane carrying five people made an emergency landing at Victoria International airport, at about 3:20 pm. On March 22, 2014.

According to the airport spokesperson, the emergency landing was made after the indication of a landing gear malfunction. The plane landed safely and no one was injured.

It was later found out that the landing gear was working properly.


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Jenni Rivera Flight Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in LA

Even though Rivera had filed for divorce, the widower of Jenni Rivera, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Esteban Loaiza, is suing the owners of the Learjet that crashed on Dec. 9, 2012, killing the Mexican-American “Diva de la Banda” and six others. The wrongful death lawsuit in in Los Angeles Superior Court claims that the 78-year-old pilot and the co-pilot weren’t licensed to fly paying passengers.Also, the 43 year old jet flew unevenly and trembled when it hit cruising speed.

The families of four of the others, Rivera’s deceased publicist, makeup artist, hairstylist and attorney filed a wrongful death lawsuit in January 2013.

The pilot exceeded the age limit for the kind of license he obtained from Mexico, a fact for which Mexico’s civil aviation holds Mexico accountable. The pilot and co-pilot also died in the crash.

The plane’s owners were Starwood Management LLC and its parent company, Rodatz Financial Group.

The plane took off from Monterey and crashed within fifteen minutes.

Air Ambulance Crash Off Florida Coast


On November 19, 2013, a Jet Rescue Air Ambulance Lear Jet 35A was en route from Hollywood Int’l Airport in Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel International Airport when the plane crashed in coastal waters three miles from Fort Lauderdale. The last contact with ATC was at 8:20. The pilots reported mechanical problems after takeoff: a May Day. He was in trouble and asked for permission to return to the runway. He was going to make a 180-degree turn and return to the airport.

Skies were clear.

There were four people aboard at the time—the two aforementioned pilots and two passengers—a doctor and nurse named as Fernando Senties Nieto and Mariana González Isunza. The flight had just dropped off a patient in Broward County.

The bodies of a man and woman have been found. Command central was set up at a city marine on Southeast 15th.

The search is ongoing.

Fifty people and nine vessels involved in the search include a Miami Coast guard helicopter, two coast guard cutters, two small boats, three florida Fish and Wildlife conservation crew, and a Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue boat.

Missouri Emergency Landing


A Learjet diverted to Saint Louis Missouri and made a safe landing after the pilot experienced problems with the landing gear. The plane was coming from Wooster Ohio.

The pilot was forced to circle Cahokia airport after experiencing trouble with the landing gear, planning to land at Parks Airport in Cahokia but eventually landing in Lambert.

The pilot performed a flyby for the tower to inspect the landing gear, and subsequently burned off fuel, and landed without landing gear.

None of the eight people aboard reported injury. Emergency services were on standby, and passengers exited the plane normally, and were carried via shuttle bus to the gate.


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Small Plane Mired in Mud at Charlottesville

On January 30, 2013, a Hawking ventures LLC Learjet 45 was landing at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport when it overran the runway. Emergency services were on standby and responded to the runway overrun.

The plane came to rest in soft ground.

The plane sustained damage. The three people aboard did not.

See Video


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Lawsuit Filed in Jenni Rivera Crash

The family of the victims (Arturo Rivera, makeup artist Jacob Yebale, attorney Mario Macias Pacheco and hair dresser Jorge “Gigi” Armando Sanchez Vasquez) of a 43-year-old Learjet that crashed in Mexico on December 9 have filed a negligence suit against Starwood Management LLC, Rodatz Financial Group Inc., McOco Inc. and Jenni Rivera Enterprises Inc.

Jenni Rivera was killed in the crash along with the 78 year old pilot and 20 year old co-pilot, neither of whom appeared to be licensed to operate the flight under the conditions (time and altitude) they were flying.


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Starwood Management Learjet Under Investigation

Noticias Telemundo interviewed Christian Esquino, owner of the plane that crashed and killed Jenni Rivera. He said that his pilots told Rivera’s entourage “it was bettr not to fly overnight,” but the flight took off at 3:00 a.m.

Ten minutes later, the Learjet crashed at 600 mph.

Esquino said the pilots were in excellent health but that the head pilot might have had a heart attack. Miguel Perez was 78 years old.

U.S. commercial pilots can only fly till they are 65.

Two of Esquinos planes were seized by the government this year.

The US is assisting Mexico in the investigation.

La Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, a través de la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), inició las investigaciones sobre la presunta caída de la aeronave con matrícula N345MC propiedad de la empresa Starwood Management, ocurrida hoy en la madrugada, en el estado de Nuevo León.

El avión LearJet salió de Monterrey a las 03:15 horas y tenía como destino el aeropuerto de Toluca. La aeronave perdió contacto con el radar a una distancia de 61.8 millas de Monterrey y en las coordenadas 24,45,50 N 99,52,18 W.

Se inició el protocolo de búsqueda correspondiente a las 04:40 horas con la ayuda de dos helicópteros y un avión.

Entre los desaparecidos se encuentran los pilotos Miguel Pérez y Alejandro Torres y los pasajeros, cuyo nombre quedó registrado como: Jenny Dolores Rivera Saavedra, Alberto Rivera Saavedra, Mario Macias, Jacob Llenares y Gerardo N.

La Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes reitera que continuará con el curso de las investigaciones.


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FAA Initial Report of Starwood Management Learjet that Killed Jenni Rivera Entourage


What: Learjet 25 en route from Monterrey to Toluca
Where: Los Tejocotes
When: December 9 20123:30
Who: 7 aboard
Update:
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 345MC Make/Model: LJ25 Description: LEARJET 25
Date: 12/09/2012 Time: 0630

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAINOUS AREA, THE 7 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, 61 MILES FROM MONTEREY, MEXICO

INJURY DATA
Total Fatal: 7
# Crew: 7 Fat: 7

NTSB Assists Government of Mexico in Aviation Accident
December 10
Washington – The NTSB is dispatching investigators to assist the government of Mexico in its investigation of the crash of a Learjet LJ25.

On December 9, 2012 at about 3:30 a.m. local time, the airplane crashed about 70 miles south of Monterrey, Mexico, due to unknown circumstances while en route to Mexico City, Mexico. All 7 persons on board were fatally injured including Latin singer Jenni Rivera.

NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman has designated David Helson as the traveling U.S. Accredited Representative. Mr. Helson will be assisted from NTSB headquarters by investigative staff specializing in airplane airworthiness and flight crew operations as well as advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Learjet.

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LearJet Wreckage Located Sierra Madre Oriental, RIP J

Monterrey and Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico
Monterrey and Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico

What: Learjet 25 en route from Monterrey to Toluca
Where: Los Tejocotes
When: December 9 20123:30
Who: 7 aboard
Why: The 300 meter debris field of a plane wreckage discovered near the town of Iturbide in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental is believed to be that of the plane taken by Rivera’s party to Toluca. Forensic experts recovered Rivera’s California Driver License and the Mexican passport of Miguel Perez Soto, confirming the hypothesis.

Jenni Rivera, “La Diva de la Banda” is from Long Beach, California and recently divorced former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza.

The wreckage was found with no survivors.

Rest in peace.

Singer Jenni Rivera and Crew in LearJet Missing in Mexico

What: Learjet 25 en route from Monterrey to Toluca
Where: Los Tejocotes
When: December 9 20123:30
Who: 7 aboard
Why: After a Saturday night concert in Monterrey, singer Jenni Rivera took off in a Learjet with a plane crew and her makeup artist, publicist and lawyer. but she did not arrive in Toluca at 4:30.

ATC lost track of the learjet 10 minutes and 61.8 miles into the flight at coordinates 99,52,18 24,45,50 North West. The plane has been reported missing in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon.

Those missing are listed as: Miguel Perez and Alejandro Torres, and passengers Jenni Rivera, Alberto Rivera Saavedra, Mario Macias, Jacob Llenares and one more person identified as “Gerardo N.”

Newspaper reports that plane is owned by Starwood Management. A Learjet reportedly owned by Starwood was deregistered as of 07/31/2012 and exported to Mexico. However this is the record of N345MC, the plane reported that the singer’s entourage was in.

Starwood management was in US court regarding forfeiture of aircraft property. See Starwood Management LLC v. United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration

A Learjet with Rivera and her crew aboard departed the Monterrey International Airport at 03.15 (15.09 GMT)

Two helicopters and a plane began searching at 4.40 pm.


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Sabreliner Announces New Service Life Extension Program Designed Exclusively for Lear Series Customers

ST. LOUIS, March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sabreliner Corporation, a leading provider of civilian and government aviation support services, recently completed its first Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) on a Lear 35 air ambulance owned and operated by Aero Jet International, a Ft. Lauderdale-based air ambulance company with over 18 years experience in the industry.

“We are extremely excited about the potential of our new program to afford substantial cost savings opportunities for our Lear series customers by cost-effectively extending the operating life of their aircraft,” said Patrick J. Finneran Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sabreliner’s approach to providing SLEP services is considerably less expensive than that of the typical OEM. In addition, the central location of our Perryville, Missouri service facility provides convenient access for our customers from coast to coast.”

The SLEP for Aero Jet International was performed in Sabreliner’s state-of-the-art Perryville facility and involved an extensive inspection of the Lear 35’s entire flight control system using the latest Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) techniques. The service also included replacement of the aircraft’s key components. Sabreliner has teamed with L-3 Communications Flight International in Newport News, Virginia to perform SLEP services and utilizes L-3’s FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) number ST00738W1.

“The STC allows operators of Lear 24, 25, 35 and 36 series to extend the life of the aircraft’s flight controls by an additional 10,000 hours,” Finneran pointed out. “This enables the operator to avoid mandatory replacement of the control surfaces at 20,000 hours. The STC provides substantial cost savings versus total replacement of the control surfaces.”


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Butler National Expands Presence in Brazil With Significant New Orders From OceanAir

OLATHE, Kan., Feb. 15, 2011 — Butler National Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: BUKS), a leader in the growing global market for structural modification, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) has been retained by OceanAir, a Brazilian MRO company, to perform special mission modifications on three Learjet Model 35 airplanes. OceanAir is part of Synergy Group.

“This is a highly specialized modification and electronics integration package,” said Jose Efromovich. “We would only entrust such technically sophisticated work to Butler’s Avcon Group. We have been working with Butler for three years and look forward to our continued relationship as we keep expanding in the rapidly growing Latin American market.”

Christian Vila, Director of Latin & South American sales for Butler National added, “Avcon is the leading provider of Learjet modifications in Brazil. We believe we will see strong demand for this and other Avcon modifications in the future including commercial aircraft.” Synergy Group, which is the parent company of OceanAir, also owns 67% of AviancaTaca with approximately 150 aircraft.

Butler National’s expanded presence in Brazil continues its effort to leverage a major global growth trend in aviation. According to recently published reports the global deliveries of new aircraft are projected to total 56,900 by 2029 and the total global fleet will approach 70,000 for commercial and business aircraft. This represents more than $3 trillion in value with most of the growth coming from Latin American, Asia and the Middle East.


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Lear Jet Crashes in Illinois


Pictured: A Royal Air Freight Lear Jet 24
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer John Padgett

What: Royal Air Lear (Cargo) jet en route to Wheeling illinois
Where: S of Chicago
When: January 5th 2010, 2 pm
Who: Pilot
Why: On the landing approach to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, Ill., witnesses saw the plane go down in the Cook County Forest Preserve on the banks of the Des Plaines River. The plane came to rest in about 4 feet of water.
The video below shows Emergency crews on Euclid.


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Wal Mart Lear Jet Tire Fire in Boeing Field


Pictured: A Walmart Lear Jet
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Jeff Rodeback

What: Wal-Mart Lear 45 executive jet en route to Anchorage
Where: Boeing Field in Seattle
When: August 26, 2009
Who: six passengers on board
Why: When the pilot was unable to retract the landing gear, he returned to Boeing field; On landing, the front landing gear (still locked up) caught fire. The tire fire was put out with foam. There were no injuries reported.


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Lear Jet emergency Landing

What: Bank Air Learjet
Where: Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday July 15
Who: pilot, co-pilot and two passengers
Why: After takeoff, th landing gear indicator light presented problems. After dumping fuel, the plane was able to land safely about 20 minutes after takeoff.


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Lear Slides off Aurora Runway


What: Learjet 55
Where: AURORA, IL
When: 01/12/2009
Who: 1 pilot 2 passengers
Why: On landing, the learjet slid off the runway.


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Lear Jet crashes on Landing in Telluride


What: Aero Jet Lear Jet en route from Scottsdale Airport to Telluride
Where: Telluride Regional Airport, CO
When: Jan 3 2009
Who: 2 crew members suffered injuries.
Why: The Lear Jet suffered a landing accident in snowy conditions at Telluride Regional Airport


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Mexico Learjet Crash Update: Another Update Another Death


A sixteenth victim of the Lear jet crash in Mexico has died. 85-year-old Victor Altamiranot died Thursday

The fifteenth victim of the Lear jet crash was a 44-year-old woman who died in the hospital.

The NTSB has concluded that wake turbulence was the problem that downed the jet. Air traffic controllers told the Learjet pilots to slow down significantly so as to not gain ground on the 767, but they flew into wake 4 miles behind the jet. This action has been interpreted as pilot error. Additionally, the contract pilots may not have been qualified on the jet as deficiencies in their certifications were uncovered.

The Learjet departed San Luis Potosí (SLP) at 18:04 on a flight to Mexico City (MEX). On board were a.o. Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, Deputy Attorney General Josi Luis Santiago Vasconcelos and Miguel Monterubio Cubas, the director of social communication.

The flight was uneventful and the Learjet passed LUCIA VOR at 18:40 and ATIZAPAN VOR at 18:42. It passed SAN MATEO VOR at 18:44, at an altitude of 11000 feet and an airspeed of 262 kts. It was trailing a Boeing 767-300 (Mexicana Flight 1692 from Buenos Aires). At 18:45 hours the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency which the pilot acknowledged but never contacter Mexico Tower. At 18:46 the flight was observed approaching runway 05L. The last radar position of the aircraft was 7.5 miles from the Mexico VOR on the 256 radial, at an altitude of 9700 feet at 185 kts airspeed.
The airplane crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.

What: Learjet 45 flown by the Mexican government en route from San Luis Potosí Airport (SLP/MMSP) to Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport
Where: Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City
When: 04 NOV 2008
Who: Passengers included:

  • Mexican Secretary of the Interior Juan Camilo Mouriño, top aide to President Felipe Calderón.
  • José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos-former assistant attorney general and current head of the federal technical secretariat for implementing the recent constitutional reforms on criminal justice and public security.
  • Miguel Monterrubio, director general of social communications with the Interior Secretariat.
  • Arcadio Echeverría, coordinator of special events, office of the Interior Secretary.
  • Norma Díaz, director in the communications department of the Interior Secretariat.
  • Julio César Ramírez Dávalos, pilot.
  • Álvaro Sánchez, co-pilot.
  • Gisel Carrillo, stewardess.

Why: At 18:45, although the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency, the pilot acknowledged but never contacted the Mexico Tower. The Learjet then crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.

Voice Data Recorder Excerpts
Pilot: That one’s got some turbulence.
Co-pilot: Hey man.
Pilot: Hey [expletive].
Pilot: Alvaro, what do we do, Alvaro?
Co-pilot: Hand it over to me, hand it over to me, hand it over to me.
Pilot: It’s yours Alvaro.
Pilot: [expletive]
Pilot: No, Alvaro.
Co-pilot: Diosito.


View Larger Map


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Mexico Learjet Crash Update: Another Death


A fifteenth victim of the Lear jet crash in Mexico has died. The 44-year-old woman died Tuesday; she had been hospitalized since the crash on November 4th.

The NTSB has concluded that wake turbulence was the problem that downed the jet. Air traffic controllers told the Learjet pilots to slow down significantly so as to not gain ground on the 767, but they flew into wake 4 miles behind the jet. This action has been interpreted as pilot error. Additionally, the contract pilots may not have been qualified on the jet as deficiencies in their certifications were uncovered.

The Learjet departed San Luis Potosí (SLP) at 18:04 on a flight to Mexico City (MEX). On board were a.o. Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, Deputy Attorney General Josi Luis Santiago Vasconcelos and Miguel Monterubio Cubas, the director of social communication.

The flight was uneventful and the Learjet passed LUCIA VOR at 18:40 and ATIZAPAN VOR at 18:42. It passed SAN MATEO VOR at 18:44, at an altitude of 11000 feet and an airspeed of 262 kts. It was trailing a Boeing 767-300 (Mexicana Flight 1692 from Buenos Aires). At 18:45 hours the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency which the pilot acknowledged but never contacter Mexico Tower. At 18:46 the flight was observed approaching runway 05L. The last radar position of the aircraft was 7.5 miles from the Mexico VOR on the 256 radial, at an altitude of 9700 feet at 185 kts airspeed.
The airplane crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.

What: Learjet 45 flown by the Mexican government en route from San Luis Potosí Airport (SLP/MMSP) to Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport
Where: Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City
When: 04 NOV 2008
Who: Passengers included:

  • Mexican Secretary of the Interior Juan Camilo Mouriño, top aide to President Felipe Calderón.
  • José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos-former assistant attorney general and current head of the federal technical secretariat for implementing the recent constitutional reforms on criminal justice and public security.
  • Miguel Monterrubio, director general of social communications with the Interior Secretariat.
  • Arcadio Echeverría, coordinator of special events, office of the Interior Secretary.
  • Norma Díaz, director in the communications department of the Interior Secretariat.
  • Julio César Ramírez Dávalos, pilot.
  • Álvaro Sánchez, co-pilot.
  • Gisel Carrillo, stewardess.

Why: At 18:45, although the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency, the pilot acknowledged but never contacted the Mexico Tower. The Learjet then crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.

Voice Data Recorder Excerpts
Pilot: That one’s got some turbulence.
Co-pilot: Hey man.
Pilot: Hey [expletive].
Pilot: Alvaro, what do we do, Alvaro?
Co-pilot: Hand it over to me, hand it over to me, hand it over to me.
Pilot: It’s yours Alvaro.
Pilot: [expletive]
Pilot: No, Alvaro.
Co-pilot: Diosito.


View Larger Map


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Mexican Learjet Crash Update



The NTSB has concluded that wake turbulence was the problem that downed the jet. Air traffic controllers told the Learjet pilots to slow down significantly so as to not gain ground on the 767, but they flew into wake 4 miles behind the jet. This action has been interpreted as pilot error. Additionally, the contract pilots may not have been qualified on the jet as deficiencies in their certifications were uncovered.

The Learjet departed San Luis Potosí (SLP) at 18:04 on a flight to Mexico City (MEX). On board were a.o. Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, Deputy Attorney General Josi Luis Santiago Vasconcelos and Miguel Monterubio Cubas, the director of social communication.

The flight was uneventful and the Learjet passed LUCIA VOR at 18:40 and ATIZAPAN VOR at 18:42. It passed SAN MATEO VOR at 18:44, at an altitude of 11000 feet and an airspeed of 262 kts. It was trailing a Boeing 767-300 (Mexicana Flight 1692 from Buenos Aires). At 18:45 hours the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency which the pilot acknowledged but never contacter Mexico Tower. At 18:46 the flight was observed approaching runway 05L. The last radar position of the aircraft was 7.5 miles from the Mexico VOR on the 256 radial, at an altitude of 9700 feet at 185 kts airspeed.
The airplane crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.

What: Learjet 45 flown by the Mexican government en route from San Luis Potosí Airport (SLP/MMSP) to Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport
Where: Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City
When: 04 NOV 2008
Who: Passengers included:

  • Mexican Secretary of the Interior Juan Camilo Mouriño, top aide to President Felipe Calderón.
  • José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos-former assistant attorney general and current head of the federal technical secretariat for implementing the recent constitutional reforms on criminal justice and public security.
  • Miguel Monterrubio, director general of social communications with the Interior Secretariat.
  • Arcadio Echeverría, coordinator of special events, office of the Interior Secretary.
  • Norma Díaz, director in the communications department of the Interior Secretariat.
  • Julio César Ramírez Dávalos, pilot.
  • Álvaro Sánchez, co-pilot.
  • Gisel Carrillo, stewardess.

Why: At 18:45, although the aircraft was instructed to switch to the Tower frequency, the pilot acknowledged but never contacted the Mexico Tower. The Learjet then crashed on the Avenida Reforma and caught fire. Several cars were destroyed and at least five people on the ground were killed.

Voice Data Recorder Excerpts
Pilot: That one’s got some turbulence.
Co-pilot: Hey man.
Pilot: Hey [expletive].
Pilot: Alvaro, what do we do, Alvaro?
Co-pilot: Hand it over to me, hand it over to me, hand it over to me.
Pilot: It’s yours Alvaro.
Pilot: [expletive]
Pilot: No, Alvaro.
Co-pilot: Diosito.

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