Israeli report warned of defects five months before helicopter tragedy that took life of General Bernales

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SANTIAGO.- New information regarding the alleged poor condition of the SAN-100 helicopter that crashed while transporting National Police General Alejandro Bernales, his wife and his entourage, was published this morning in the Panamanian newspaper "La Prensa".

According to the periodical, which reportedly gained access to a preliminary technical report that was issued in January of 2008 –five months prior to the accident—by Israel Aerospace Industries, the aircraft was in need of structural improvements and required the replacement of more than ten flight-instrument pieces, as well as the motor yield measurement devices.

The Panamanian newspaper indicated that following a revision, the Israeli company issued a technical proposal to repair the helicopter, which was allegedly sent to the Panamanian Minister of Government and Justice, Daniel Delgado, as well as the director of SAN, Rigoberto Gordón.

The report is in addition to the questionable letter of warning presented by presidential pilot Alexis Camarena on February 8th of 2007, in which he recommended that the SAN-100 not be used to transport VIP passengers.