Initial pilot SUICIDE theory..MI185...
I guess no one would ever offer any apologies on all the "assumed guilty till proven innocent" statements and self-learned/appointed aviation experts theories that were posted against the Skipper of MI185. ..
cpt744
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SILKAIR MI185 CRASH
Boeing drops suicide theory
It does U-turn on stance that pilot Tsu Way Ming (below) crashed plane deliberately
JUST days before the sixth anniversary of the crash of SilkAir MI185, aircraft manufacturer Boeing has dropped its lawsuit against the estate of pilot Tsu Way Ming and the airline.
This means that Boeing is also ditching its initial stance that Captain Tsu intentionally crashed the plane into the Musi River in Palembang, Indonesia.
The move appears to come in the wake of new evidence that suggests that a rudder malfunction was, in fact, the cause of the crash, said The New Paper yesterday.
In May, American aviation experts, commissioned by lawyers working for the victims' families, found that the plane's flight data recorder - or the crucial 'black box' in aviation parlance - had not stopped recording information before the plane suddenly dived, contrary to official investigation results.
The experts also found evidence that the plane's rudder - a small section in the tail of the plane which helps steer the aircraft - had malfunctioned.
Again, official investigations into the crash had not been able to pinpoint this as the cause of the crash.
Boeing had initially contested the May findings, but now it appears that it is making a U-turn on its stance.
On Dec 19, 1997, all 104 on board MI185 died when the plane plunged into the murky Musi River during a flight from Jakarta to Singapore.
The faulty-rudder claim is not new. In fact, it was the main theory behind the crash until speculation surfaced that Capt Tsu, then aged 41, had been facing personal and financial problems and had committed suicide.
In 2000, the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee's 200-page report could not reveal the cause of the crash, but it did not blame Capt Tsu.
In 2001, the Singapore High Court also found that there was not enough evidence to say that the pilot had a direct hand in the crash.
But the six-year saga may finally come to an end with the latest moves.
Besides dropping its suit, Boeing is reported to be reaching out-of-court settlements with the families of the victims, said The New Paper report.
Mr Tom Ellis, director of litigation support at Chicago-based Nolan Law Group, which represents 15 families, had said that the amount Boeing was forking out for the settlement was separate from the SilkAir compensation.
Mr Ellis was also reported as saying that the payout reflected Boeing's recognition that there was a possibility that, taken to court, a jury could find in favour of the families.
Most of the families have accepted SilkAir's compensation package, ranging from US$175,000 (S$301,000) to US$200,000.
SilkAir's insurance company - Singapore Aviation and General Insurance (Sagi) - is also dropping its $100 million lawsuit against Boeing and the manufacturers of the aircraft's parts.
In a statement, SilkAir said that the parties had 'agreed to drop their respective claims and close the matter'.
The widow of Capt Tsu, Mrs Evelyn Tsu, yesterday declined to comment on the latest developments.
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