The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

EFFECTIVE immediately the Mayaguana Airport will be closed to all scheduled commercial carriers and aircraft over 6,000lbs, Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said yesterday.

This comes in the aftermath of last week’s tragic Mayaguana plane crash which claimed three lives.

Hanna Martin said, however, aircraft in short field take off and landing configuration may operate with caution as repair work continues at the airport. All night flights are also suspended and the Department of Civil Aviation will only allow emergency helicopter flights.

She also said a preliminary report has been completed by the Air Accident and Investigation team of the Civil Aviation department, which uncovered several facts.

“The initial investigation revealed that two vehicles were involved in the accident and both vehicles were parked too close to an active runway. There was a plan for the execution of the procedure of how and where vehicles were to be positioned, but somehow during the execution something went wrong. Additional vehicles were added to the procedure without proper briefing from the planners. Two vehicles were stationed at the beginning of the runway, one on either side but they were parked too close which contributed to the aircraft collision on landing,” she said.

“When the aircraft hit the first vehicle, this resulted in approximately three feet of the aircraft wing tip breaking off in the rear windshield, exposing the fuel lines. The impact of the entire right wing of the aircraft with the second vehicle ruptured the right wing fuel tank causing an explosion. Reports indicate the second vehicle’s engine was still running which may have initiated and assisted the spread of the fire.”

Mrs Hanna Martin also said the driver of the first truck said she did not feel safe when she saw the aircraft landing so she got out and moved a distance away. A few minutes later she heard a loud noise, but thought the plane had backfired. She did not realize the truck was hit until she saw the fire.

She also said attempts were made to extinguish the fire and a water truck from the town was engaged to assist, but their efforts were fruitless.”

Mrs Hanna Martin said this report was just preliminary and a final report will be compiled.