Investigation launched into mishap of American Airlines flight at CJIA

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has launched an internal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the blow-out of tyres suffered by an American Airlines Flight as it was preparing for takeoff early Wednesday.

A statement from the CJIA noted that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has also been called in to conduct an independent investigation.

According to the statement, just after midnight, the American Airlines flight AA1512, destined to Miami, was executing a turn on the runway 06 threshold for takeoff when its nose gear and right main gear tyres were deflated after coming into contact with temporary threshold lights.

“As a result, the aircraft became disabled, and the runway closed.”

According to the statement, these temporary threshold lights were put in place by the China Harbour Engineering Company to facilitate the runway extension works and that the appropriate Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was previously issued to advise of these works and for pilots to exercise caution when in the vicinity of the threshold.

“The 128 passengers and 05 crew members were transported from the aircraft to the Terminal Building via airport buses.

“At 04:40 hrs the runway was reopened for flight operations following the relocation of the aircraft,” the CJIA statement noted.