Mexico Tries to Curb Plane Crash Rumors

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials tried to rein in speculation that swirled Wednesday over the cause of a plane crash on Tuesday evening that killed the interior minister and a former prosecutor who once led the fight against the country’s violent drug cartels.

The authorities said the crash appeared to have been an accident and they promised a thorough investigation. Officials took unusual actions to head off speculation that the plane had been sabotaged, including releasing radar images of the small jet’s final moments and recordings of the pilot’s last communications with air traffic controllers.

The interior minister, Juan Camilo Mouriño, was among nine people aboard the Lear jet when it suddenly spun out of control and slammed into evening rush-hour traffic in an upscale business district here. Everyone on the government plane and at least five people on the ground were killed. About 40 people were injured and 16 remained in hospitals on Wednesday.

Mr. Mouriño, 37, was Mexico’s top security official. His death comes as the government is waging a war on drug trafficking that has provoked a bloody response from the cartels. Gunmen have assassinated police chiefs, mayors and soldiers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/americas/06mexico.html?th&emc=th

MEXICO CITY - Two flight recorders from a plane crash that killed Mexico's No. 2 government official were sent to the United States for examination, officials said Thursday, amid widespread speculation, but no evidence, that drug cartels were to blame.

Both "black boxes" were found where the Learjet 45 slammed into rush-hour traffic in a posh Mexico City neighborhood, Transportation Secretary Luis Tellez said at a news conference.

Five people on the ground and nine people on the plane were killed in Tuesday's crash, including Interior Secretary Juan Camilo Mouriño.

Another 40 people were injured. Eleven were still hospitalized Thursday.

Officials say they have few clues why the plane suddenly dropped from the evening sky.

http://www.lmtonline.com/articles/2008/11/07/news/doc4913fb63c3e5e584409963.prt