Pilot in Brazil 2006 crash denies responsibility

BRASILIA, Brazil — One of the two American pilots involved in one of Brazil’s worst air disasters is denying allegations that his plane’s anti-collision system was disconnected at the time of the 2006 crash.

Pilot Joseph Lepore testified by videoconference from the United States on Thursday.

A Boeing 737 operated by Gol Airlines collided with the Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet piloted by Lepore and Jan Paladino. The smaller plane was owned by Ronkonkoma, New York-based ExcelAire Service Inc. It landed safely while the larger jet crashed into the jungle.

Lepore and Paladino face Brazilian charges of negligence and endangering air traffic safety.

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