Captain Jessup Bahinting ,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aviatour Flying Inc.pose with one of his plane during interview with CDN business reporter last Oct. 4, 2010. CDN FILE PHOTO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The family of Captain Jessup Bahinting conceded on Tuesday that he might have committed errors that led to the crash of the Aviatour Air’s Piper Seneca plane last August 18, killing him, a co-pilot and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
The family, however, expressed shock at findings that Bahinting might have connived with an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) to expedite clearances for the plane without the necessary tests.
The Caap cited pilot error and poor aircraft maintenance as the causes of the Piper Seneca crash that killed Robredo, Bahinting and a Nepalese co-pilot last August.
In a short statement issued by the family, they accepted the finding of pilot error, saying Bahinting was just human.
“If ever there was a piloting technique error on the part of Capt. Jessup Bahinting, well, what we can say is that it is probable because as human as we are, it is significantly possible,” read the statement.
The family also accepted the finding that the right engine of the plane malfunctioned, saying there was no perfect machine.
“As to the issue of material failure that involved the right engine, it is but obvious that anything that is made by man is [bound] to fail. There is no such thing as a perfect machine,” the family added.
But the family expressed shock over accusations that Bahinting colluded with Caap inspector Fernando Abalos to circumvent safety tests and expedite permits for his plane.
The Bahinting family denied any knowledge of a dubious deal that occurred in proving the airworthiness of their aircraft.
“As to the issue of fraudulent collusion between AviaTour and the Caap official during the airworthiness release of the aircraft, we just have to admit that we are totally shock(ed) and hurt for we are, in any manner or form, not knowledgeable to this kind of devious deal,” the Bahinting family said.
“Such things could have been prevented if everyone is just honest and dedicated to their respective honorable duties and responsibilities,” they added.
The family also said that the crash was a reminder for everybody concerned.
“In finality, we find these events as a wake-up call for both sides, the aircraft operators and the authority that only by doing the right thing, at the end, can it be acceptable to both man and God,” they said.
The wife of Bahinting, Margarita, refused to be interviewed Tuesday. A relative said Margarita was at the company’s hangar and was shocked over the findings of the Caap probe.