Garang helicopter wreckage to be returned to Uganda

Sept 9, 2005 (KAMPALA) — The wreckage of the helicopter in which Sudan’s First Vice-President Dr John Garang and 12 other people perished on 30 July in southern Sudan is soon to be returned to Uganda.

“We are doing the technical analysis of voices in the cockpit recorder and flight data systems (black boxes) and other areas. We are finalizing transcribing the information recovered and will soon move the wreckage back to Uganda. We are doing expert consultation and after that we shall put our findings in a report,” an investigator said.

The source said, “Aeronautics and avionics experts from Uganda, Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, USA and Kenya met our Russian colleagues and studied the aircraft parts for clues to the likely crash causes, just six minutes to its final destination. We already have some pointers.”

The helicopter was manufactured and had just been overhauled in Russia.

(New Vision)