Govt launches investigation into American Airlines incident at CJIA

– all passengers and crew were safely transported to the terminal building by airport buses, no injuries reported

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Swift action is currently being taken by both the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to conduct investigations into the circumstances surrounding an incident with American Airlines flight’s departure.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Department of Public Information (DPI) learnt that on Wednesday, August 21 at 00:34hrs, American Airlines flight AA1521 encountered a deflation of its nose gear and right main gear tires. This occurred after the airplane coming into contact with temporary threshold lights after taxiing onto RWY 06 to depart Guyana for Miami, USA.

Installed by China Harbour Engineering Company, the temporary threshold lights are part of the extension works on the runway. The Public Infrastructure Ministry noted that pilots, through the necessary means, were formally advised of the current runway works and were asked, “exercise caution when in the vicinity of the runway”.

Approximately four hours after the incident occurred, the runway was fully reopened for flight operations.

None of the 128 passengers and 5 crew members aboard the flight were harmed and were transported to the terminal building by airport buses.

The runway expansion works at CJIA includes sees the runway being extended from a length of 7,500 feet to 10,800 feet. This is being done to accommodate larger aircraft at the country’s major airport. Accompanying these works will be a new $200M Instrument Landing System (ILS) that will function to increase the level of safety and accuracy for flights landing at CJIA, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

Source: MOPI