This unfortunate crash is now being used to bolster previous pilots safety concerns regarding the airline and domestic air service in Mexico in general. In September Mexican aviation safety was criticised bt the pilots union, ASPA, which had accused Taesa of flying unsafe "scrap metal" and further claimed nearly one in three would clearly be barred from the entering the US for these safety concerns. The DC-9 lost was 29 years old. Allegedly, the plane was "famous" for its oil leaks.

Aviacsa, AeroCailfornia and Aerocozumel were also accused of regularly flying unsafe aircraft on their domestic routes.

Witness reports say the doomed aircraft was in flames just after takeoff and that it exploded in midair. The pilots reported only "emergency". The investigation continues with an expert on MD aircraft already having been sent by Boeing.


[This message has been edited by doc (edited 11-10-1999).]