'I Did Everything I Could,' Says Air Traffic Controller of Chapecoense Flight

12/02/2016 - 12h16

Yaneth Molina, an air traffic controller at the Olaya Herrera airport in Medellín, released a letter addressed to both her professional class and the general public stating that she did everything in her power to avoid the plane crash that sealed the fate of the Chapecoense flight.

"I did everything I possibly could while complying with my technical obligations to save lives", said Molina before lamenting the tragedy. "I'm afraid my efforts turned out to be fruitless".

A local radio station confirmed the letter was authentic. In her letter, the air traffic controller expresses how grateful she is for the support she has been given from the commercial aviation community while also criticizing journalists who, according to her, have contributed to spreading misinformation surrounding the procedures that were followed to try to land the plane.

She signed her letter using her codename in the aviation community "Yanky Mike", which can also be heard in the audio file containing her conversation with the pilot.

Among the 71 passengers who perished in the crash were players, team personnel, sports journalists and crew members. 6 passengers survived.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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