[Published: Tuesday July 17 2018]
 Cuba blames Mexican crew for plane crash
HAVANA 17 Jul (ANA) - A plane crash in Cuba which killed 112 people was caused by "human error", the Mexican charter company which owns the plane says.
Damojh Airlines said a study of the data recorders showed the Boeing 737 had taken off too steeply.
Mexican pilots' union ASPA said Damojh's statement, which was released before the official investigation has concluded, was "irresponsible".
The crash was one of the worst to happen in the Caribbean for decades.
The Boeing 737 and its Mexican crew had been leased from Damojh by Cuban state airline Cubana when it came down 20km (12 miles) south of the Cuban capital, Havana.
Eyewitnesses described seeing the jet burst into flames before crashing into a field close to a wooded area near Havana's main airport.
Damojh said in a statement that "the crew took off at a very steep angle creating a lack of lift which caused the aircraft to plunge".
The company said it was basing its assessment on data from the plane's data recorders which had been extracted by a team made up of investigators from Cuba, Mexico and the US, and representatives from Boeing and engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney.(ANA)
FA/ANA/17 July 2018--------
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Israel/PM