Terror at CJIA… Caribbean Airlines plane crashes on landing

— several passengers injured

Saturday, July 30, 2011

A Caribbean Airlines flight crashed on landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana about 01:30 this morning. The aircraft literally ran out of the runway and crashed through the perimeter fence before falling to the roadway beyond the fence. It broke in two, the break occurring in the area that accommodates the first class cabin.

There were no fatalities but at least two passengers sustained broken legs while several others suffered lacerations and other injuries.

Most of the injured were treated at the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital before being taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

A source close to CJIA described the accident as a “landing incident”. He said that there was some panic because an incident of this nature is unheard of at the airport.

Immediately the authorities summoned ambulances from the various health institutions in and around Georgetown, some coming from as far as West Demerara.

Initial reports suggest that the pilot landed far down the runway and could not stop in time. At the Georgetown Public Hospital the staff were put on alert because they expected an influx of patients.

Trinidad immediately flew in another craft which landed and was ready to fly out the more seriously injured.

One woman passenger said that she heard a loud sound when the plane landed. She said that everyone, including herself began screaming. “It was terror,” she said. “I was praying to Jesus.”

She said that she was sitting near the emergency exit with her husband, who opened the emergency door and passengers began exiting the plane. She was complaining of pains to the stomach, which were inflicted by her seatbelt when she was flung forward.

Kaieteur News also spoke to an overseas-based Guyanese, whose wife suffered neck and back injuries. The couple is here on a two-week vacation.

Most of the passengers fled the wrecked plane without their luggage.

Operations at the airport were at a standstill.

There were 176 passengers aboard the craft, many coming in from North America during this the peak season.

The season is so hectic that Delta Airlines put on a daily flight and Caribbean Airlines increased its flight to Georgetown.

— Kaieteur News

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COMMENTS (26)

david snowball
7/30/2011

I flew Air jamaica landing in extreamly bad weather.When the Captain announced that night that we were going to land I was literally sweating. Captain Black putting down an A300 by sight at Norman Manlely like "mother putting her new born to sleep in the crib". Jamaican pilots are a very skilled and experienced bunch. They are always an integral part of the airline safety inspection team so if it means delay they are going to get it right. Now where are they? With AA, British, Saudi and Quntas

K Reynolds
7/30/2011

To be fair, accident of this nature can occur anywher regardless of the airline. CAL took over AJ primarily because we have been running AJ for 40 yrs without a return/profit. AJ was highly mismanaged because of corruption. AJ failure is an indicative of how most business is govern in Jam. AJ initial failure has nothing to with T&T. In fact CAL bail-out AJ & Jam gov. Most of us were emotionally attached to AJ
The good news is no one died. We need to have an open mind before we rush to judgment.

Mis Fit
7/30/2011

Accidents happen because humans have to interact with scenarios created by other humans and nature. This swift jump, but most of you bloggers on this thread to demonize CAL and lift up JM as faultless is really childish and churlish. Let your heads - not your emotions - do the talking. More Jamaicans still fly with American Airlines than Air Jamaica, despite that Christmas Eve, 2009, incident. Stop the childishness.

Mis Fit
7/30/2011

John Brown, you are dishonest! I recall a JM flight coming from a North American point of origin, where the aircraft suddenly fell several thousand feet, causing injuries. Check the record, my friend. This is the first major accident that CAL or its antecedent BWIA has ever had. And your point, John Brown, therefore, was what????

John Brown
7/30/2011

In the 43 year history of Air Jamaica there has never been any safety incidences. Air Jamaica was known as among the safest airlines in the world. Caribbean Airlines has been wrecking this impeccable record, in less than 1 month there has been already two serious safety incidents. In the first a Caribbean Airlines plane lost cabin pressure almost fell out the sky and had to do an emergency landing and now this Guyana crash. How ironic, Jamaica and Trinidad’s arguments against granting permits to Redjet was safety when It is the “One Caribbean Airlines with two brands” that is not safe. I have never heard of an airline with two significant incidences in a month. I guess all the good pilots gone to the Middle East, the government should have should the Air Jamaica pilots the airline instead of CAL.

British Deportee
7/30/2011

NH, your post is fair & balanced. David & Sue, are you holders of pilot licenses? According to your comments, both of you seem to have flown air crafts for years. By the way, what does it mean to be 'literally afraid'? People whose arguments constantly exhibit deficiencies in business sense will always substitute loyalty for sound judgment & sensible decisions. During the aye-days of AirJam, when the industry had settled on soda & peanuts, AirJam offered champagne & steak. Too big & showoff man!

Antonette W.
7/30/2011

Thank God no one was killed. It could happen with any airline. When Air Jamaica was at its glory, remember how many of you used to put them down, complain about delays, misplaced baggage, no explanations? Sure they could have done better, but they were not the worst. You never know the use of a good thing until its gone. Just like our artifacts and historic buildings, we don't fix things. We abandon ship at the first sign of trouble. Our mantra is, "Naw badda wid dat. Just dash it wey yah!"

james allen
7/30/2011

what did i tell people long ago..careful what you wish for,now see the little hurry come up smaller island..look at the crooks that got money in their pockets to sell out air jamaica,now look at this and this is just the beginin of things to come..jamaica pilots, how many years,zero accidents..trinidad lost something called bwia before,the planes were not paid for and were not being maintained,now they bak with this carib airline and even catch the licky licky crooks in jam,an got air jam..see

Toyna Williams
7/30/2011

I was so upset with the sale and the fact that they didn't sell it to the Pilots. Once I realized that the sale went through I promised that I would never travel on that airline. Now, do you all still thinking about having Red Jet? I dont think so. These people do not know anything about the ariline business more over to fly planes. Leave it to a Jamaican to land that iron bird.

Toyna Williams
7/30/2011

I thank god no one lost his/her life or it wasn't worse. Many of you bad mouth AJ all the time and chose to support other airlines. If we all were supporting the airline there wouldn't be any need to sell it. This is telling us something, to keep what we have. Air J had the safest record this is why AA used to give it such a fight. Nicolas Henry what more fact are you looking for. CA crashed, could have killed everyone. Bruce is a nuckle head to sell something that is a symbolic to JA.

Jeff Orange
7/30/2011

Well said Nicolas Henry. BTW, anything can happen in bad weather and poor visibility. I wonder if the flight was on-time if they would have gone ahead with the landing, as oppose to diverting to another airport? To be, the landings should not take place when certain conditions exist as seen by the outcome of this and many other airline disasters that occur under bad weather conditions.

david jones
7/30/2011

I always flied air jamaica from jfk to kingston but those days are over this is not air jamaica its carribean airlines and all they do is put a air jamaica logo on dem plane.............air jamaica put saftey first but carribean airlines put money first. cant wait till we get back a national airline again. as for now im taking jetbluw

sue cee
7/30/2011

I flew this airline earlier this month and I was literally afraid for my life. Our flight was to have departed JFK at 1:05 p.m.; it left at 12:30 a.m. the following morning. Explanations were few, far between and ridiculous – until they admitted to problems with the “equipment.” Now this. I won’t fly this carrier again. Let’s not kid ourselves, folks. This IS NOT Air Jamaica. It’s sad, but we must acknowledge that an era has passed. I wish the victims a speedy recovery.

Bal Ance
7/30/2011

This is sad. But thankfully no one died. @Arlie - This has nothing to do with karma. Tragedy averted. Let the investigation lead to improvements.

7/30/2011

Thank God no lives were lost. But I wish Caribbean Airlines would take off the Air jamaica logo and colors off there advertisements and promotions. It's abvious Air Jamaica was sold and not merged. So i guess Jamaica not seeing me for now. I love my Air Jamaica. Oh and let me just say, none of our original Air Jamaica crew was on that flight. Thank God.

Shane Williams
7/30/2011

Thank God no one died

Carpe Diem
7/30/2011

@Nicolas Henry. The facts speak for themselves. The fact is a CA jet crashed. Never heard of an AJ plane crashing. By the way, isn't it better for ppl to act like "grown educated adults" instead of "grown educated children"?

Yvette Greenidge
7/30/2011

Seems ironic given the excuse given for the delay in granting landing rights for Red Jet to travel to Jamaica and Trinidad. The excuse ... "safety issues".

Carry Go Bring Cum
7/30/2011

"Praise di Lord" a nuh one a di plane dem wid AIR JAMAICA logo pon it. And give thanks that no lives were lost. Way to go caribbean pilots.

owen lloyd
7/30/2011

Same way the AA plane crash in Jamaica two years ago. The pilot come in short on the runway.

Arlie Gray
7/30/2011

Karma is a woman!

7/30/2011

Happy to know it wasnt worse, BUT i wonder if the Gvt advised them not to tarnish Air Jamaicas safety record....They may as well take off the air J badging now.

Nicolas Henry
7/30/2011

Let's not rush to judgement and cast premature blame on the Trinidad based carrier, sometime we Jamaicans like too much susu susu. We need a investigation to be completed before passing blame. It's about time we act like grown educated children. Don't forget that a similar incident occured in JA with an AA Jet. Don't let bias take over your mind, because you're upset with CA take over of AJ. Don't blame CA, blame your wrecking ball successive GOVT for AJ fall from the hands of JA.

Jay Brown
7/30/2011

I am so happy no one died in this incident. I continue to have faith in Caribbean pilots as they are some of the best in the world.
What occurred here seems eerily similar to what happened at NMIA in 2009, where that plane landed too far down the runway and could not stop in time.

Carpe Diem
7/30/2011

wah neva happen in a year happen in a day. Air Jamaica transfer to Caribbean airlines an lose di excellent safety record. Tragic.

Wicked leaks
7/30/2011

Where is my Air Jamaica????? Sad
Well Caribbean air surely aint getting my money sorry after reading this it shows a lack on command on the pilots end. at least thats my opinion.I was shocked though when i read the article at 4:45am as i thought it was in Jamaica. wheew thank God it wasnt. Thankfully no one died.

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Terror at CJIA… Caribbean Airlines plane crashes on landing