Dear Editor,
I could not believe my eyes upon seeing a friend’s posting on Facebook from MSNBC that the Caribbean Airlines plane had crash landed and split into two at the airport. While near-misses must have presumably occurred at the Cheddi Jagan Airport, no one would have thought a jet- liner would have crash landed, and there would be no serious casualties. Many air accidents that I have read about and seen on video have fascinated me but never did I expect one to take place right here on our shores.
While initial reports suggest the unpreparedness of the security, airport and health authorities, this should be an eye-opener for them. That event could have resulted in a mass death accident Guyana could not have afforded at this time.
When the investigations are completed, answers to pertinent questions will be answered, like why couldn’t the plane come to a stop? Were any technical faults involved? Was visibility good enough for landing? Is it time for the authorities to mull the idea of lengthening the airport runway? Were the lights on the runway working efficiently? What weather information was provided to the incoming aircraft? The flight data recorder will have valuable information for investigators. Passenger accounts will also prove essential to the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB).
These accidents have a habit of occurring at night when pilots really have no visuals around them, except for what they are being told by Air Traffic Control. Thousands of landings happen at various airports each day and are certainly taken for granted, but still this goes to show how everything on an airplane must happen like clockwork. There is no room for errors and mistakes.
Notwithstanding the accident, the airplane, used by millions each day, remains the safest means of travel man has ever known.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Suseran
