Saturday July 30th, 2011

A major disaster was somehow avoided when a Caribbean Airlines jet early Saturday morning ran off the runway on landing at Guyana's Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and broke into two. There were no fatalities. Health minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that the most serious injuries were a broken leg and a mouth bleed. Reports say there were 154 passengers and eight crew members aboard Flight BW 523 which connected from New York to Port of Spain. The incident occurred around 1.25 AM while the flight had been expected since 9.45 PM Friday. Firefighters, soldiers, police and officials from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority are currently on the scene. Private hospitals had been placed on alert in keeping with a disaster response plan but were subsequently demobilised. Geeta Ramsingh was seated in the first row of economy class in Seat 8E. "He touched  down with a force. The touch was unusual and the plane took off with a speed.  Some people clapped and some people started hollering when they smell the gas," said the Guyana-born US citizen who resides in Pennsylvania.

Ramsingh,who recently underwent a major intestinal surgery, said when she jumped off the wing and landed someone else jumped on her and she sustained a bruised knee. She also said her abdomen was feeling shaken. "We are very very thankful and grateful that there are no deaths. They have to make a decision on reopening the airport," President Bharrat Jagdeo said at CJIA. The plane, a Boeing 737-800, which the airline reportedly began leasing in April from Ireland-based Macquarie AirFinance, was broken in two. A Georgetown Public Hospital official told demwaves.com that passengers were coming in to the Accident and Emergency Unit by the bus loads but confirmed there were no serious injuries. The official said additional doctors had been called in and that everyone was being checked out. It remains unclear how long the airport will remain closed. Meanwhile, Caribbean Airlines in a statement on its website said the incident occurred at approximately 1.32 AM. "Caribbean Airlines immediately activated its emergency response programme and is in direct contact with the relevant authorities. The airline’s primary concern at this time is for those on board the aircraft and their families," it read. The airline is expected to hold a press briefing at 7 AM in the VIP lounge at Trinidad's Piarco International Airport.