6 Jan 2010

PNG governor claims negligence caused plane crash

5:20 pm on 6 January 2010

The governor of Morobe province in Papua New Guinea says the pilot involved in a crash that killed all six passengers on board was negligent.

68-year-old Richard Leahy was flying the Cessna in mountanous terrain when the engine caught fire and crashed.

Among the victims were relatives of the governor, Luther Wenge.

Mr Wenge believes the aircraft and the pilot were too old.

"I call on the pilot to depart PNG because he has been totally negligent. He has been flying that aircraft which is over 50 years old as such the plane was bound to have a crash as it has happened."

Luther Wenge says Civil Aviation has also failed, as such an old aircraft should not have been allowed to carry passengers.