The general director of LaMia Bolivia (Santa Cruz Viru Viru), Gustavo Vargas, has been formally indicted by the Bolivian Public Ministry on three charges: manslaughter, serious injuries and responsibility for an air disaster. The charges come as a result of investigations into the crash of LaMia ARJ-85, CP-2933 (msn E2348), on approach into Medellín José Maria Córdova, Colombia on November 28. The disaster claimed the lives all but six of the sixty-eight passengers and nine crew on-board including the majority of the Brazilian soccer team, Chapecoense.
Also arrested was Vargas' son, Gustavo Villegas, who was the director of Bolivia's National Aviation Register. He has been charged with abuse of influence, negotiations incompatible with the exercise of public authority and dereliction of duty.
LaMia’s two remaining ARJ-85s have been seized as elements related to a crime, and may be sold off to pay damages. The headquarters of the airline were also searched by prosecutors, and documents and computers confiscated. The Bolivian carrier’s Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) was suspended by the civil aviation authority (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil - DGAC) immediately following the crash.
It is increasingly likely that the crash was due to a lack of fuel and electrical failure. Celia Castedo, an official with the Bolivian airport authority Aasana, claims that she warned the plane’s onboard dispatcher that the plane did not have enough fuel for its range and required a refuelling stop. Bolivian authorities have criticised Castedo for not preventing the flight from leaving Santa Cruz. She has since fled to Brazil where she has been granted temporary asylum.
Some media outlets claim that the pilot involved in the crash, Miguel Quiroga, who was a part owner in the airline, was facing prosecution for deserting the Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (Cochabamba)). The third owner of LaMia, Marco Rocha, is wanted for questioning. Authorities suspect that he has fled to Columbia.
In a separate matter, the Bolivian Air Force has launched criminal proceedings against LaMia for unpaid debts related to maintenance services in 2014.
