The Frankfurt district attorney stopped the case against Birgen Air, the Turkish airline that offered air service to Puerto Plata from Germany. The German judiciary has lifted restrictions against Birgen Air, attributing responsibility for the crash solely to the pilot. Although confusion about operation of computer-assisted systems (autopilot, warning annunciations) played a role (the pitot tube was blocked), this confusion would not have arisen but for inappropriate pilot decisions and actions. Some 189 people, including many German tourists died, when the B757 airliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Plata International Airport on 9 February 1996. The Birgen Air flight, complete with its crew, had been leased to the Dominican airline, Alas Nacionales.
