PACKAL assures normal operations following incident at NMIA
KINGSTON, Jamaica — PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), the operators of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), has sought to assure all travellers and stakeholders that there have been no diversions of flights following an incident on the runway on Thursday.
According to a release on Friday, at approximately 9:30 pm on Thursday, American Airlines flight AA850 from Miami, reportedly experienced a hard landing and veered off the runway. The plane which was carrying 168 passengers and six crew members, “landed on Runway 30 amidst heavy showers. Shortly after landing, Air Traffic Control (ATC) received a report indicating a possible collision with runway edge lights during the landing. The aircraft however, arrived safely at its gate. There were no reported injuries among passengers or crew.
READ: American Airlines flight veers off runway at NMIA
In its release, PACKAL said its personnel promptly initiated a thorough inspection of the runway and its surroundings. It said the inspection revealed that despite some debris, there was no apparent damage to the runway surface. Further detailed inspections were done to ensure complete safety.
Outlining that the company’s primary concern is passenger security and safety, Sitara English-Byfield, chief executive officer of PACKAL, saw we “immediately activated our response protocols following the incident and conducted a comprehensive inspection of the runway.”
“We are relieved to report that there were no injuries, and that the runway remains operational with no apparent damage,” she continued.
The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has since indicated that it will be conducting its own investigation into the occurrence. PACKAL says it is fully cooperating with the JCAA to support their efforts.