Investigators say they hope to know the exact cause of the Cuba plane crash soon, after recovering one of two black boxes from the wreckage in good condition.
The recording device was found over the weekend, less than two days after the Boeing 737-200 crashed just outside of Cuba’s capital, Havana.
Authorities have confirmed that 110 passengers and crew died in the tragic Cubana de Aviacion accident and only three survivors were transported to a local hospital for immediate care.
Cuba’s Transport Minister, Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez, told media that investigators are currently trying to determine the cause of the island’s worst air disaster in 30 years and are considering all angles, including potential negligence by the aircraft’s owners, Global Air or Aerolineas Damojh.
“This plane was chartered just a short time ago, less than a month ago. First you rent them to see how they function… and if everything goes well, we extend it.”
Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez
Latest on #Cuba plane crash:
– More than 100 killed
– #Boeing737 airplane
– Three seriously injured survivors pic.twitter.com/bVaVovpnju— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) May 18, 2018
Rodriguez continued, explaining that the government-owned airline is in a difficult position with aircraft because the US blockade makes it hard on the country to buy or repair its own planes, SBS reported.
Meanwhile, Cubans living near the wreckage believe the pilot of the 737 purposely steered the aircraft away from houses to avoid any further loss of life.
“It was falling in stages and it looked like he saw all the houses and pulled a hard right.”
Rocio Martinez
Investigators are still searching the wreckage for the second black box and hope to recover it in good condition.