Airline in Reno Crash Suspends Its Operations

Galaxy Airlines is suspending operations to allow an inspection of its fleet, but the company president said that despite reports of leakage from a plane that crashed killing 68 people, the craft had been properly maintained.

Meanwhile, the Washoe County coroner’s office released a list of 66 of the known crash victims. Two victims remained unidentified. None was reported as having California homes.

Galaxy President Phillip Sheridan said late Thursday that the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based airline “has agreed to temporarily halt its flight operations so that our Electra aircraft can be inspected. We look forward to a quick return to service.

“This accident was an enormous tragedy which nothing can change.”

Sheridan initially refused to answer questions, but when pressed by reporters he said that the Electra seen leaking fluid and smoking in the days before it crashed had undergone proper maintenance.

Galaxy uses its three remaining Lockheed Electras as cargo planes.

Smoke, Liquid Seen

One of the three survivors of the Monday morning crash and a certified pilot who boarded the craft Sunday at South Lake Tahoe, Calif., told the National Transportation Safety Board they had seen fluid leaking from the plane, board Chairman Jim Burnett said. The pilot thought the liquid was fuel, Burnett said.

Earlier Sunday, an Eastern Airlines pilot in Las Vegas reported seeing smoke and a flow of liquid from the Electra-188 as it taxied down a runway for takeoff and an air traffic controller saw the smoke, which vanished after several miles of flight, Burnett said.

The Galaxy pilot reported vibrations in the craft and asked to return to Reno Cannon International Airport, but it crashed seconds later.

Meanwhile, two of the three survivors of the crash remained in critical condition and the third was in good condition.