SAO PAULO - Brazilian federal police Wednesday blamed two U.S. pilots flying a private plane for their September 2006 midair collision with a commercial airliner.
Authorities said Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino failed to recognize that their plane's transponder was not functioning, O Globo reported. Both men face trial in Brazil.
Defense Minister Waldir Peres again blamed two U.S. pilots last month for the worst crash in the country's history.
The pilots contend their plane's transponder stopped emitting its signal before their craft clipped the commercial craft.
The crash of Gol Flight 1907 killed all 154 people onboard. The small private plane flown by the two U.S. pilots managed to land safely after the collision.
Copyright © 2007, by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
