(Trinidad Guardian) Minister of Transport Chandresh Sharma has maintained he has no details relating to Caribbean Airlines flight HER72-600 which made an emergency landing because of a detached engine casing last Friday. Sharma said he did not have any details regarding the situation and asked that all calls about the incident be directed to Caribbean Airlines.
It was earlier reported that the pilot of the aircraft noticed the engine detach during the flight and turned the plane around. However, according to a CNC3 television report on Monday night which included a recording from the cockpit, the pilot appeared to have no idea anything was wrong.
The recording indicated that the pilot was in fact contacted by air traffic control and given the option to continue to his destination or return to Piarco. According to communications manager Clint Williams, the investigation was ongoing into the circumstances of the incident. “When the reason is ascertained, information will be released,” Williams said. He said the aircraft had incurred no additional damage.
Williams also said investigations into the Caribbean Airlines jet that crash-landed in Guyana last year had not been completed. The jet split in two upon hitting the runway, but all 163 people on board survived the rough landing. The plane overshot the 7,400-foot (2,200-metre) runway at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, crashing through a chain-link airport fence and ending up on a dirt road around the airport. The plane broke just before reaching a 200-foot ravine.
Williams said the company was awaiting a report from the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) in the US. The investigations regarding last week’s incident are being conducted by Caribbean Airlines, the T&T Civil Aviation Authority and the manufacturers of the engine casing.
The T&T Guardian was unsuccessful in its attempt to contact chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority Ramesh Lutchmedial.
