• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 11 / 07 / 2010

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Statement from Avions de Transport Régional, based in Toulouse, France: ATR regrets to confirm that an ATR 72-212 operated by Cuba’s Aero Caribbean was involved in an accident yesterday at 5:40 pm (local time) near to Sancti Spiritus (Cuba).

Flight 883 was operating between Santiago de Cuba and Havana with 61 passengers and 7 crewmembers. There are no survivors of the accident.

The aircraft, registered under CU-T1549, was MSN (Manufacturing Serial Number) 459, initially delivered from the production line in November 1995. It accumulated almost 25,000 flight hours in more than 34,500 flights. Aero Caribbean has operated the plane since October 2006.

At this time, the reasons of the accident are still unknown. According to local news reports, Hurricane Tomas was in the region. IACC has suspended all flights as a result of the hurricane. ATR has dedicated a response team and is ready to provide full technical assistance as necessary to the French BEA (Bureau d’Enquêtes et Analyses) and to IACC (Instituto de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba), the local Investigation authorities. The IACC will lead the investigation and will be the official source of information.

The ATR 72-212 is a 68- to 74-seat twin turboprop engine aircraft.ATR express its deepest sympathy to the families, friends
and loved ones affected by the accident.

Source: //miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/11