Few Real Details So Far, But Pix Prove Interesting

The recent report of a CAPS deployment in Jamaica created a bit of confusion due to Jamaican general media reporting that seemed to be suffering from issues involving lack of aviation knowledge, poor translation, or a combination of the two.

Now, we've heard from one of the people on board... and while his comments do not clear up a number of questions we have about this VERY confusing situation, we include the following quotes in an effort to be as complete as possible about what we know, as referenced by someone who was in a position to relate more information than anyone. Additionally, Mr. Valdes was kind enough to include some photos that may also bring some clarity to the matter.

According to passenger Omar Valdes, "I´m glad to be alive, but seems that there was a mistake on what I was doing inside that plane. I was praying to God to help me to survive that crash, I was not piloting or co piloting that Cirrus plane because I don´t have any idea how to do it.

Anyway my English is simple and some misunderstanding of my English speak cause the reporters to think that I was the pilot. I was trying to explain them more than 10 times that I only pull the parachute when the pilot approved to do it and was sitting beside the pilot Mr. Duarte at co pilot seat, means for me on front seats of the plane.

Hope this help to correct the misunderstanding...

Omar Valdes
Dominican Republic crash survival"

In an attachment Mr. Valdes shared with ANN, Valdes reported that, "Aboard were Dominican Republic citizens Freddy Oscar, 54 pilot; 32-year-old Omar Valdes; who was sitting down at co-pilot seat, 28-year-old Nelson Reyes; and 79-year-old American Ellison Gauding."

OK... it's not much more data than we had to begin with, but follow-up questions have been asked of Mr. Valdes that might shed some light on what really happened here. ANN will update this story as soon as we have verifiable and pertinent data to report.

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com