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SIA pilot to be charged over New Zealand car crash
Published on Oct 3, 2014 8:08 AM
The New Zealand police have filed charges against a 32-year-old man over the car crash on Wednesday that left two Singapore Airlines (SIA) crew members seriously injured. -- PHOTOS: SCREENGRABS FROM NEW ZEALAND HERALD
By Danson Cheong
The New Zealand police have filed charges against a 32-year-old man over the car crash on Wednesday that left two Singapore Airlines (SIA) crew members seriously injured.
The suspect is believed to be a first officer with the airline. He will appear in the Christchurch District Court today, where he will be officially charged with two counts of ''reckless driving causing injury''.
''If convicted, he could be fined up to NZ$20,000 (S$20,020) and jailed a maximum of five years,'' said a New Zealand Canterbury police spokesman, adding that he could also be disqualified from driving in the country for a year.
The suspect was driving a Toyota car with four other SIA crew members near the town of Rolleston when it crashed into a four-wheel-drive towing a horse trailer at a cross-junction.
Two of the SIA staff, the New Zealand driver and the horse were not injured. The SIA crew members who were not hurt have since returned home, according to the New Zealand police.
But chief steward Chew Weng Wai remains in critical condition, while stewardess Vanessa Coehlo is in stable condition following surgery. Both are still in Christchurch Public Hospital.
All five SIA staff were part of the crew on Flight SQ297 that arrived in Christchurch from Singapore on Tuesday morning.
When contacted, SIA declined to comment further on its staff, citing its privacy policy.
''Our priority has not changed, which is to provide our staff and their families the highest standard of care and assistance,'' said an airline spokesman.
The New Zealand police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
SIA pilot pleads guilty to causing New Zealand car crash
Published on Oct 3, 2014 3:39 PM
Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot Benjamin Wu Yonghao has admitted causing a high-speed car crash on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, that left two of his colleagues seriously injured. -- PHOTOS: SCREENGRABS FROM NEW
By Danson Cheong
SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot Benjamin Wu Yonghao has admitted causing a high-speed car crash on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, that left two of his colleagues seriously injured.
The 32-year-old appeared in front of a Christchurch District Court judge on Friday and pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless driving causing injury.
Wu, a first officer with SIA, was behind the wheel of a Toyota that collided into a four-wheel-drive towing a horse trailer, at a cross-junction near the town of Rolleston on Wednesday.
Four other SIA crew members were in the car. Two - chief steward Chew Weng Wai and stewardess Vanessa Coehlo - are still in Christchurch Hospital.
Mr Chew suffered brain injuries and is in a critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit. Ms Coehlo is in a stable condition following surgery, a hospital spokesman said.
The two other SIA stewardesses were unhurt and have since returned home.
New Zealand police have asked for a delay in sentencing until Mr Chew's condition stabilises though police prosecutor sergeant Glenn Pascoe warned Mr Chew "might still pass away".
Wu's defence lawyer Kerry Cook told the court that SIA has flown the victims' families to New Zealand and was in the process of doing the same for Wu, adding that in the meantime Wu has been "isolated and under stress".
He added that Wu has been staying at a city hotel and brought NZ$15,000 into the country which the Court can disburse to the victims as compensation.
Mr Cook told The Straits Times that Wu has not had any contact with his family in Singapore since the accident.
When asked if the airline had provided assistance to Wu or suspended him, an SIA spokesman declined to comment.
Judge Jane McMeeken has adjourned the case until Monday.
Wu has been let out on bail, but his passport has been impounded.
If convicted, he could be fined up to NZ$20,000 (about S$20,000) and jailed a maximum of five years. He could also be banned from driving in New Zealand for a year.
SIA pilot in New Zealand car crash ordered to pay victims $20,000
Published on Oct 10, 2014 8:05 AM
Five SIA crew members were involved in a car crash in New Zealand on the morning of Oct 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Singapore Airlines first officer Benjamin Wu Yonghao, who was involved in a car crash in New Zealand which left two of his colleagues seriously injured, has been ordered to pay each of his victims NZ$10,000 (S$9,997) in compensation. -- PHOTO: BENJAMIN WU YONGHAO/FACEBOOK
By Danson Cheong
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot who was involved in a car crash in New Zealand which left two of his colleagues seriously injured, has been ordered to pay each of his victims NZ$10,000 (S$9,997) in compensation.
SIA first officer Benjamin Wu Yonghao, 32, who was sentenced on Friday morning by the Christchurch District Court, was also banned from driving in the country for 18 months.
Wu was driving a rental Toyota car with four other colleagues in it when he ran a stop sign at a cross-junction just outside Christchurch, and hit another vehicle - a four-wheel-drive towing a horse trailer - last Wednesday.
Wu had managed to slow down to about 40-50kmh when he saw the stop sign at the last minute but could not stop in time.
The four-wheel-drive was travelling at 80kmh and had the right of way, braked heavily too but was not able to prevent a collision.
The court heard that Wu had told police he did not want to make an abrupt stop as it would have been "uncomfortable" for his passengers.
Last week, Wu had pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless driving causing injury.
His two colleagues, chief steward Chew Weng Wai and stewardess Vanessa Coehlo, are still hospitalised - Mr Chew for brain injuries, and Ms Coehlo for fractured bones and injuries to her spleen and bladder. They were both seated in the backseat and not wearing seatbelts.
Mr Chew, who is still in Christchurch Hospital, has six to 12 months of rehabilitation ahead of him, the court heard.
A victim impact statement from Mr Chew's family said he would require further surgery, with his recovery in the future still being "unknown".
"It is obvious that he will face a very long recovery," Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said.
Ms Coehlo would "bear scars for a long time" and was unsure about her future employment, he added.
Judge O'Driscoll noted that it was "perhaps ironic" that the other two stewardesses wearing seatbelts had not been hurt, adding that Wu should have ensured his passengers had belted up.
But Wu's defence lawyer Kerry Cook told the court there was no legal responsibility for his client to do so.
"It is the responsibility of the passengers alone to make sure they wear seatbelts," Mr Cook told The Straits Times.
He added that the incident was a "tragic unintended accident with tragic consequences", and that Wu has apologised in person to both Ms Coehlo and Mr Chew's family, who do not bear him any grudge.
"(Wu) is significantly upset and distraught at the harm. He has a significant burden to carry," said Mr Cook.
In a statement issued by Mr Cook, Wu said he was sorry and took responsibility for the accident.
"I am thankful that everyone involved in this accident is showing signs of improvement and recovery and I just wish we can move on from here so my friends and colleagues can focus on becoming healthy and well again," he said.
