Douglas Charles Airport to re-open, ‘hopefully’, later today

Damaged Sky high aircraft at Douglas Charles Airport

The Douglas Charles Airport could reopen later today according to a release from the Ministry of Public Works, Water Resource Management and Ports.

The airport was closed after the left landing gear of a Sky high aircraft collapsed soon after landing at about 12:30 PM on Monday.

“The aircraft touched down about 135 feet from the threshold markings and the left landing gear collapsed soon after landing.  The aircraft veered towards the left side of the runway and the other landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then stopped in the grass area between the taxiways B and A.  A small fire on the aircraft was quickly extinguished by Government’s Fire Services,” the release stated.

It added that the three (3) member crew and the twenty-nine (29) passengers exited the aircraft and were escorted to the airport terminal for further medical examination. No major injuries were recorded at that time.

The release went on to state that Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority notified the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) within minutes of the accident, in keeping with ECCAA procedures. It further stated that efforts were made to have the ECCAA officials arrive on island Monday April 8, 2019. However, due to circumstances beyond their control ECCAA could only arrive on island on the morning of Tuesday April 9, 2019.

“We expect that once ECCAA officials give the all clear, normal Airport operations will resume, hopefully by early afternoon on Tuesday April 9, 2019.  DASPA will continue to monitor the situation and advise the general public accordingly,” the release stated.

Below is the full text of the statement from the Ministry of Public Works, Water Resource Management and Ports.

 

At about 12:30 pm on Monday April 8, 2019, it was reported that a Sky high aviation Jetstream 41 aircraft with registration marks HL1038 landed at the Douglas Charles Airport (DCA) utilizing runway 27 from the sea end.

The aircraft touchdown about 135 feet from the threshold markings and the left landing gear collapsed soon after landing.  The aircraft veered towards the left side of the runway and the other landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then stopped in the grass area between the taxiways B and A.  A small fire on the aircraft was quickly extinguished by Government’s Fire Services.

The three (3) member crew and the twenty-nine (29) passengers exited the aircraft and were escorted to the airport terminal for further medical examination. No major injuries were recorded at that time.

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) was notified by Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority within minutes of the accident, in keeping with ECCAA procedures.

Given the position of the aircraft between taxiway A and B and the proximity to the runway the ECCAA officials in Antigua advised that Douglas Charles Airport remains closed until they have completed their investigation.

Efforts were made to have the ECCAA officials arrive on island Monday April 8, 2019. However, due to circumstances beyond their control ECCAA could only arrive on island on the morning of Tuesday April 9, 2019.

We expect that once ECCAA officials give the all clear, normal Airport operations will resume, hopefully by early afternoon on Tuesday April 9, 2019.  DASPA will continue to monitor the situation and advise the general public accordingly.

We are aware that travel plans have been disrupted as a result of the accident and the delay in the reopening of the Airport for normal operations. However, every accident needs to be investigated by the OECS regulatory authority (ECCAA) whose headquarters are in Antigua. Therefore, we ask for the patience of the travelling public and urge the public to remember that safety comes first.

The Ministry of Public Works, Water Resource Management and Ports, and DASPA express gratitude to the Fire Services for their swift action in extinguishing the small fire as well as the management and staff of Douglas Charles Airport and other agencies for their support in a very challenging situation. We are indeed thankful that despite the damage to the aircraft, the passengers and crew walked out of the aircraft without any visible injuries.

 

 

 

 

 

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7 Comments

  1. April 10, 2019

    Thank goodness. It could have been worse.

  2. My Land
    April 9, 2019

    Alass! poor Dominica! But we can do better than that we!

  3. Harvey
    April 9, 2019

    What prevent the ECCAA from being on island yesterday afternoon? Whereas the importance of an investigation cannot be underestimated, the efficiency and competence of the authorities should not be questioned. Within six hours after an event at an airport the ECCAA should be on the scene.
    Is it because that there were not any fatalities that they demonstrate such tardiness with their presence on the accident location? It is difficult to believe that had there been mass fatalities the ECCAA would arrive on the scene almost 24 hours later.
    Dominica continues to be the scum of the Caribbean. So passengers travelling to and from Dominica are left in abeyance and at the mercy of some ECCAA officials who choose to be on their own time. The least that could be done by the authorities is to give some travel advisories to inform the travelling public of what’s going. Oh Dominica, my heart bleeds for you.

  4. Alexis
    April 9, 2019

    Marigot hospital!!!!; where is the priority!!!! if people we injured and needed critical life saving procedures would they be driven to the garbage in Roseau and would they loose their life on that long trip through the hills and wining corners. When will so called intelligent people use their intelligence and not their behinds!!

  5. Karl Orndem
    April 9, 2019

    meantime NO flights able to enter Dominica. That is why i have always said to improve Canefield in the event Marigot cannot operate. After Maria if not for Canefield a lot of assistance would have not been able to get here on time.

  6. Air Dominica
    April 9, 2019

    Everything here is a crisis. We are the crisis island of the Caribbean, thanks to Skerrit. Unfortunately we have no one that can manage a crisis

  7. Iamanidiot
    April 9, 2019

    and were escorted to the airport terminal for further medical examination
    Look jokes :lol: :lol:
    Further examination by who? using what?
    Is there a doctor on call at the air port? I would really like to know how it was carried out. Was it air port staff looking to see if you break your hand while sitting on a bench? I see an ambulance there but as far as I know ambulance staff isnt trained to medical exam you. Isn’t the qualifications a C drivers license? Why is there no facility to PROPERLY examine for a concussion? It’s not just about asking “you ok?” ,”you ok?”

    But y’ll will say “I hate Skerrit” when I say that is nonsense. After 20 years Darroux still coming and promise 12 medical facilities. Crossing his fingers, the other day Robbie Tongue was crossing his fingers for flights to Florida, Now Darroux Crossing his fingers for facilities. Dunno why they doe change their shoe to them crossing their finger.

    Salt on our Paulotte

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