A routine flight from Placencia to Punta Gorda turned into a harrowing experience for passengers onboard a Tropic Air flight this morning.
As the small plane was taking off from the Placencia airstrip its left landing wheel made contact with an SUV that was on the road near the airstrip. The impact veered the plane into the sea. A couple that was at the airstrip to see some people off witnessed the incident.
Witness 1
“The first flight left they got off high, the second flight came in and this landing on went long but that one didn’t and cars kept coming around the corner and I said that plane is going to hit that vehicle and sure enough boom right there it hit it; the landing gear hit the van on the top of the roof.”
Witness 2
“We heard some rattling on the plane itself as it was continuing to fly and then it landed which appeared very safely in the water.”
The couple then rushed to the SUV and found two men inside. They described the state they were in after the impact.
Witness 1
“The passenger door was crushed in, the driver’s side we were able to get that door open and get him moved around but he was in shock. I went around and we tried to get the passenger door open, we finally got that open and got the passenger out and brought him right over here to sit him down in the shade, he was covered in blood and glass.”
Inside the plane were seven passengers including Acting Prime Minister Patrick Faber along with Minister Godwin Hulse. Tropic Air’s President John Grief III said four crew members were also on board.
John Grief III – Tropic Air’s President
“The subsequent loss of lift and airspeed caused the pilot to have to ditch in the ocean.”
Reporter
“How many passengers were on board?”
John Grief III – Tropic Air’s President
“It was a pilot and ten passengers three of which were Tropic Aircrew.”
Boats arrived shortly to rescue all eleven persons. No major injuries have been reported.
Witness 1
“It took a little bit but then eventually boats got out there and he belly landed the plane just perfectly, did a great landing and I think that is why there are no fatalities out there.”
When speaking with Grief, he stated that no vehicles should have been near the path of the airplane, so what went wrong? Eyewitnesses said one of two barriers that prevent vehicles from passing when aircrafts are landing or taking off did not go down.
Grief says the incident brings to light a hazard that has always concerned them.
John Grief III – Tropic Air’s President
“It’s always been a concerned and barriers were put there by the Belize Airport Authority and signage but the problem is that drivers ignore the situation sometimes and then this is what happens. It's the first time there’s been a loss of an aircraft as a result of vehicles crossing in front, vehicles have crossed in front of aircraft and either touched or come very close to touching. I frankly can’t recall either but it has been an issue in the past.”
The aircraft was almost completely submerged in the water and is a complete loss to the company. Police and Civil Aviation personnel are investigating the incident. Tropic Air has also launched an investigation into the matter.
A release issued by Tropic Air states that the company in coordination with the Belize Airports Authority and the Belize Department of Civil Aviation are investigating how the vehicle passed in front of the departing aircraft and what measures need to be implemented immediately to prevent its reoccurrence. Tropic also noted that the incident was quote, “in no way a reflection of Tropic Air’s operational, maintenance or business practices”.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://lovefm.com
Government issued a statement saying, "Upon takeoff from the Placencia Airstrip, the left landing wheel made contact with a passing vehicle that had managed to bypass one of the lowered barriers."
Tropic Air's release says, "Tropic Air in coordination with the Belize Airports Authority and the Belize Department of Civil Aviation are looking at how this vehicle passed in front of the departing aircraft and what measures need to be implemented immediately to prevent another such occurrence."
That's what we spoke to Tropic Air President John Greif about today via telephone from San Pedro:...
John Greif, President - Tropic Air
"The driver went past the warnings, and apparently past cars that were parked waiting for us to depart, so...we really don't know what we could have done differently."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What would you say about the skill of the pilot?"
John Greif
"Well somebody said he's the Sully of Belize. Because it took an incredibly skillful pilot to, have practically no time, being only feet above the water to make a safe landing."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"How do we prevent a recurrence?"
John Greif
"Well, Jules, that's really where we need to dig deeper. We had thought that there were enough safety barriers in place to prevent this from happening. But obviously, we were wrong, so, I think as a community the aviation community has to, take a hard look at this."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Let's speak about the, the barrier itself. Was it assuredly working at the time of this morning's accident?"
John Greif
"I've gotten both reports, Jules. There are two of em: one of them is on the north side, and one on the south side of the runway. And I've gotten some reports that only the south one went down, but then I've also got reports that they both went down, so...I really, can't comment on that."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Does Tropic Air need to exercise more vigilance in terms of assigning a staffer, to actually be there with a manual direction, or stopping of traffic in the event that the barriers aren't working reliably?"
John Greif
"But if there were no barriers at all, there are plenty of signs warning of low flying aircraft and don't traverse this point without checking to see if the runway is clear. And as I said it is my understanding that there were other drivers that were stopped and waiting for us to depart."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Is there any thought on perhaps moving the switch. I know the switch is not remote and you actually have to go into a box to open it and the box is a little ways off. We always have to factor in the human element, that sometimes people are lazy and just say "man, it's alright.""
John Greif
"Yep, that would certainly be a solution. To put the switch on the barrier itself and then if the barrier doesn't go down, the operator stays there and physically blocks the traffic."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"And are you certain that that did not happen in this case? Insofar as, maybe it was just a neglect of responsibility and just saying, man, "it will be ok," and then, the unexpected occurs."
John Greif
"Knowing that staff there, Jules, that staff is one of our groups of stars, so I doubt that would have been the case, but like I said, I've gotten conflicting reports and having not seen it or there being no video available I really couldn't say."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What sort of emotional rollercoaster did you go through this morning?"
John Greif
"It's a real emotional rollercoaster. Because the first thing you think of is anybody hurt, are there any fatalities? Are there any injuries? And then an incredible surge of relief when you find out that not only were there no fatalities, but there were no serious injuries. So, it's a real emotional rollercoaster."
Greif says that all the passengers were assessed to be "ok", and a few of the passengers wanted to see Doctors in Belize which the airline facilitated.
We could not get comment from the Civil Aviation Department.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.7newsbelize.com
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