Prosecution names Suter, Dosé in Indictments

By Thomas Stocker

April 28, 2008
Air Transport and Cargo, Regional Airlines

A Swiss federal prosecutor confirmed today that he will indict Moritz Suter, André Dosé and four former employees with management functions of the defunct regional airline Crossair for homicide by neglect in connection with the crash of an Avro RJ100 during approach on Zurich Airport on Nov. 24, 2001. The prosecutor announced plans to bring charges last November, but he identified the suspects only by their initials. The accident killed 24 occupants of the aircraft, including both pilots, and nine other people were badly hurt.

The air accident investigation bureau blamed the crash on the pilots, who were flying too low during a VOR-DME approach in low visibility. According to the prosecutor, Crossair founder Suter and later Dosé, his successor, maintained “a culture of fear” among their pilots, pressing them to infringe on safety rules rather than cause additional cost to the airline. For example, they recommended that pilots land in dangerously low visibility rather than divert to another airport, according to the charges. The prosecution will also contend that managers failed to recognize the shortcomings of the captain, who had several incidents without serious consequences on his record. The other four managers facing charges are the former operations manager, a human resources manager, the chief pilot and instructor and the RJ100 fleet chief.

The trial is due to start May 5 and should last about two weeks.

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