NTSB ASSISTING IN INVESTIGATION OF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT THAT KILLED MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Ellen Engleman-Conners has named Richard Rodriguez as the U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the investigation into yesterday's crash of a Raytheon (Beech) Super King Air 200 that killed all nine persons aboard including Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski.

Mr. Rodriguez has been an accident investigator for the NTSB, and before that the Civil Aeronautics Board, for the past 42 years.

The accident occurred on Thursday in Bosnia at 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m., EST). The Federal Aviation Administration and Raytheon Aircraft Company (Beech) also sent representatives to assist in the investigation.

The United States' participation in this investigation is governed by Annex 13 of the articles of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Media Contact: Terry N. Williams, (202) 314-6100
williat@ntsb.gov