transportation

SAN-100 probe to take 2 more weeks

Officials are still awaiting a report from Pratt and Whitney before releasing their findings.

An investigation into the crash of SAN-100 will apparently take at least two more weeks.

That’s when the government expects to receive a report from Pratt and Whitney about the helicopter's engines. The firm, which built the engines, is examining the wreckage to determine if engine problems caused the crash, which occurred on May 29 in Calidonia and in which 11 people died.

According to government sources, Pratt and Whitney is expected to send the government a “preliminary offici report.” That report will be sent to the ministro de Gobierno y Justicia, Daniel Delgado Diamante.

Diamante has also been appointed to liason with the Chilean government. Six of the people killed in the crash were from Chile, including the country's top police official. They were in Panama for a conference, and were en route to Panama City from Colón when the helicopter crashed.

Government officials said that preliminary reports from Pratt and Whitney have ruled out fuel problems as the reason for the crash.

The investigation has been heavily scrutinized by Chilean authorities and relatives of the victims. A delegation from Chile met with Panamanian officials last month to discuss the investigation, and reports in Chilean media have suggested that the family members are concerned about how it’s being handled.

Panamanian authorities, however, deny that they are being pressured to wrap up the investigation, and said it would be conducted in a thorough manner.