Jet was up-to-date on safety checks, says CEO May 11, 1996 Web posted at: 9:45 p.m. EDT ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- "It's impossible to put into words how devastating something like this is to humans who care." ValuJet President and CEO Lewis Jordan offered those words in condolence to the family of the passengers and crew of ValuJet Flight 592. He said in a news conference Saturday afternoon that Flight 592, a DC-9 built by McDonnell Douglas in 1969, was up to date on its safety inspections. According to Jordan, preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft went down about 15 miles west-northwest of Miami International Airport. Jordan said reports of smoke in the cockpit were unconfirmed. The plane was powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines, which Jordan said are among the most reliable in the industry. They are also used to power Boeing 737s.

FLORIDA CRASH STORY LINKS FLORIDA CRASH STORY LINKS Search for survivors called off Pilot eyewitness describes crash (1.7M QuickTime movie) Regulators defend safety record of budget airlines Pena says ValuJet followed safety rules Families, loved ones in shock Jet was up-to-date on safety checks, says CEO

Jordan outlined the different types of airplane checks ValuJet follows to maintain its aircraft.

• An "A" check. The most frequent; does not involve taking an aircraft back to the hangar and overhauling it. The DC-9's last "A" check was performed May 7.
• A "B" check. Less frequent but more in-depth. Last performed on the DC-9: March 19.
• A "C" check. An extremely thorough overhaul; essentially tears the plane apart and puts it back together. Last performed on the DC-9: October 1, 1995.

Michael Goldfarb, former FAA chief of staff, told CNN that the dates provided by Jordan indicate the plane was current in its inspection schedule.

Jordan said the jet's age was not necessarily of major concern, nor was it necessarily a factor in the crash. "When you say that this is a relatively old airplane, it is important to point out that the DC-9 is a very common airplane operated by a lot of airlines," he said.

"There are special inspections that are designed to protect against what are called 'aging aircraft concerns' on any airplane that goes up beyond 10, 15 years in operating time. But there is absolutely nothing about a 25-year-old plane that has been properly maintained that gives particular cause for concern."

The plane, formerly owned by Delta Air Lines, was the fourth obtained by ValuJet, Jordan said. ValuJet has been operating since 1993.

Jordan declined to discuss the financial implications of the crash for ValuJet.

Related sites:

• Federal Aviation Administration
• ValuJet Homepage
• Miami International Airport
• The McDonnell Douglas DC-9
• The US Department of Transportation

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