QUICK RESPONSE

Fire officials immediately and efficiently responded to and safely extinguished an engine fire on board a military plane yesterday morning.

Reports of a military plane landing at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) flooded the airwaves yesterday morning. Divisional Officer, Errol Gaskin, told The Barbados Advocate that around 7 yesterday morning, they received an alert from Air Traffic Control about the fire onboard.

He reported that he commanded a crew, along with Divisional Officer Mayers to the scene. He mentioned that it took a little under two hours of dumping aviation fluids from the aircraft’s engine in order to make it safe to approach. Upon completing this, Gaskin said that they were able to safely cut the engine, thereby cancelling out any future threats. He also said that they were able to get 20 passengers and crew members safely off the plane that was parked away from the regular hustle and bustle of the airport.

Gaskin noted that if there were any problems, they had emergency management and other official personnel on standby to assist if help was needed. Thankfully, they were able to put out the fire without much of a hassle and persons were able to disembark the plane safely.

Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Kellman Walcott, confirmed that an emergency landing of a military plane did occur. Walcott told the Barbados Advocate that a Military P3, very similar to a Hurricane Hunter, was forced to take refuge at GAIA yesterday morning a little after 8:30.

The Acting Director revealed that an official investigation was currently being conducted to deduce exactly what occurred on flight.

“There is an established procedure that takes place when something like this happens,” he said.

He noted that they were currently waiting on reports to be submitted from persons involved as well as Air Traffic Services.