Prior assault on pilot ‘had no bearing on crash’

THE pilot of a light aircraft which crashed in the Wicklow Mountains in October 2008 was the victim of a violent assault on the day before the accident, it has emerged.

However, an official investigation has concluded the attack on Bristol businessman, Shariz Booz, 47, within 24 hours prior to the fatal crash had no bearing on the accident.

A report by the Department of Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) concluded Mr Booz had probably become disorientated by bad weather over the Wicklow Mountains.