Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Lula fires defense minister in wake of air crash

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired Waldir Pires from his dual post as defense minister and head of the country’s air traffic control as criticism of the government continues in the aftermath of an air crash that officially killed 199 people. For instance, a recent poll shows that only 43% of Sao Paolo residents blamed the government for problems with air travel.

Pires was the head of a chaotic air traffic control system in Brazil over the past few years:

  • An air traffic controllers’ strike in March and April paralyzed almost all flights throughout Brazil.
  • Four air traffic controllers and two U.S. pilots face criminal charges in connection with a September 2006 crash.
  • Hundreds of flights in and out of Sao Paulo were cancelled this week due to similar inclement weather and runway problems that affected the deadly TAM Flight 3054.

Retired Supreme Court judge and ex-justice minister Nelson Jobim has been tapped by Lula to replace Pires.

Image- Al Jazeera

Sources- Al Jazeera, NNC News, The Latin Americanist, International Herald Tribune, Reuters

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