Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 10, 2018 News
– Several sustain minor injuries, hydraulic system failure blamed
Local aviation officials with the support of external agencies have launched an investigation into the circumstances that forced a Fly Jamaica flight with 128 persons onboard to make an emergency landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) yesterday, minutes after takeoff.
According to officials, Fly Jamaica flight OJ256 departed CJIA at 2:10 a.m. for Toronto, Canada. About 15 minutes into the flight, passengers reported that the pilot reported that the Boeing 757 was experiencing problems with its hydraulic system and needed to return to CJIA.
Onboard were 120 passengers, including two infants, and eight crew members, which included six Guyanese cabin members and two Jamaican pilots. In total there were 35 Guyanese, one Trinidadian, 82 Canadians, one Pakistani and 11 American citizens on board.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, explained that everyone on board has been accounted for. Initially, six passengers were said to have received injuries. They were transported for medical treatment at the Diamond Regional Hospital, before they were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Kaieteur News understands that several others received medical attention, but they were all treated and sent away.
“Some persons were slightly injured when they were deplaning. They were no broken bones or anything like that,” Patterson told reporters. The Minister stated that an investigator has been appointed.
Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Egbert Field, said that the flight data recorder (black box) and cockpit voice recorder have been retrieved for analysis by the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Government’s agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation.
“This investigation will take some time and I ask that you bear with us as we go through this investigation. An investigation is mainly to see exactly what caused the accident; it’s not to cast blame on anyone,” Field stated.
Passengers told Kaieteur News that upon touchdown, the aircraft sped past the airport’s terminal, past the end of the existing runway and onto the new extended portion of the runway which is not officially open.
The aircraft careened into chain linked fence before coming to rest in a pile of sand, with the front of the plane perched above a ravine – the same area where a Boeing 737 operated by Caribbean Airlines overran and split in two on July 30, 2011.
It is believed that the pilot encountered issues with the brake system upon touchdown.
“Fortunately for us, on this occasion the extension was there so they were able to utilise the extension. Previously, before the runway extension they would have suffered the same consequences as the Caribbean Airline flight several years ago. At least one bright spot out of a gloomy situation,” Patterson said.
Emergency inflatable slides were deployed from the plane to allow passengers and crew to deplane.
Passengers reported that before take-off the flight was delayed for about 40 minutes due to mechanical problems with the aircraft door.
In the wake of the crash landing the aircraft showed extensive damage to its wings, wheels and other sections.
PREPARE FOR LANDING
Among those receiving medical treatment was Mowshani Lekhraj, who was visiting Canada to surprise her parents who are celebrating their birthday at a family event today. She recalled that the pilot informed passengers that the plane had encountered hydraulic issues and had to return to the airport.
She recalled hearing two screeches before the plane was turned around.
Before the plane touched down, Lekhraj, who occupied a window seat, said the pilot informed the crew to prepare for landing.
“I thought it was a normal landing. When I looked outside I could see us flying past the airport building. I never prayed like this before because I remembered that Caribbean Airlines flight. The plane jerked back and forward. It was chaos onboard,” Lekhraj stated.
She credited the pilot for safely bringing the flight to a stop in the sand. Lekhraj stated that Fly Jamaica has made plans for passengers to be transported via Caribbean Airlines from today.
SPARKS FLY
Mukesh Bissoon was travelling to Canada with his wife, Rajwantie, and daughter Cindy. He recalled seeing sparks fly shortly before the plane came to a stop.
“There was smoke and some fire. We were rushing to get off the plane because at the time we did not know what could have happened. We talking aviation fuel and fire…the pilot did a good job to bring the plane to stop. It was scary,” Bissoon said.
Officials said that soldiers and police had secured the crash site. They vouched that all of the baggage was secured in the aircraft’s hold which had not been breached. Passengers were allowed to access their baggage which was removed from the crashed craft.
According to Minister Patterson, the CJIA Tower activated emergency protocols in order to protect the integrity of the active crash site.
The runway has been reopened for normal flight operations, but there were delays with some flights.
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