In the late hours of December 15, a Gulfstream IV SP of the Helidosa company crashed in the vicinity of the Las Americas International Airport, located in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.
According to a statement issued by the operator, the aircraft had on board two crew members, Luis Alberto Eljuri and Victor Emilio Herrera, and seven passengers. The aircraft, registration HI1050, was bound for Orlando, in the United States of America.
The company statement indicates that «for Helidosa, this accident causes great sorrow and grief. We request the people to join us with prudence and solidarity to support the affected families that are going through a difficult time.»
The company also assures that will fully collaborate with the authorities and the investigation board «as mandated by the law.»
Helidosa was questioned by Dominican Republic’s National Pilots Association just 12 days ago: in a letter sent to the Dominican Aeronautical Authority, the union denounced that the company failed several times to provide the proper resting time to its crews. The union states that Helidosa pilots were compelled to work 12-hour shifts without mandatory rest.
In the same letter, the association demands for an investigation of crew resting and aircraft maintenance, «to check and confirm the flaws that have been going on for months» and for them to be corrected, «for the worst to be avoided.»
The information captured by FlightRadar24 shows that the aircraft struggled to gain speed and altitude, but it is premature to speculate about possible causes for the accident.
This is a developing story.
