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West Caribbean Airways was a small Colombian charter airline established in 1999, initially operating smaller aircraft. By 2003, they had branched into jet operations, handling McDonnell Douglas MD-82s. However, the airline's safety reputation had suffered due to severe financial strains, with the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) imposing fines for various operational violations, including overloading, duty time violations, and insufficient pilot training. As the airline continued to operate despite these issues, the risk became increasingly pronounced.