FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 24, 2000

STATEMENT OF NTSB CHAIRMAN JIM HALL ON THE CRASH OF GULF AIR AIRBUS A-320 IN BAHRAIN

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall released the following statement today:

At the request of the government of Bahrain, the National Transportation Safety Board sent two investigators to assist Bahrain in its investigation of an accident involving a twin-engine Airbus A320, which took the lives of all 143 aboard.

Frank Hilldrup has been designated to lead the U.S. team. The NTSB investigators bring extensive expertise in the areas of underwater recovery and aircraft engines. The Federal Aviation Administration is also sending a representative. The team is expected to arrive in Bahrain Friday afternoon.

I wish to express our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy.

Under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Annex 13, the Safety Board regularly assists foreign investigations. In 1999, the Safety Board assisted in 28 foreign investigations.

Media contact: Terry N. Williams (202) 314-6100

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