UPDATE: Ministry shares details of emergency landing

THE MINISTRY OF Tourism and International Transport has revealed details about this morning’s emergency landing of flight NASA 426.

There were 20 persons on board the aircraft which was undertaking operations on behalf of NASA.

A statement from the Ministry said the four-engine P3 plane left Grantley Adams International Airport at 6:18 a.m. for the Ascension Islands.

At 40 miles south-east of the island, the pilot reported a full emergency due to a fire in one of the engines which was shut down.

Local emergency personnel were called out.

The pilot indicated that the plane would dump fuel to lose weight and arrive at GAIA at 7:15 a.m.

Officials said it was decided the aircraft would hold for two hours as it had 11 hours and 45 minutes of fuel on board and the new estimated time of arrival was 9 a.m.

NASA 427 landed safely at 8:31 a.m.

After the aircraft landed and was parked at position #22, a runway inspection was conducted between 8:38 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. and the runway was found fit for operation.   

The emergency stand-down was given at 8:42 a.m. by the Airport Fire Service.

The Airport Ambulance, Fire Service and Police were decommissioned.

An officer from Department of Emergency Management along with the GAIA Inc. chief operating officer visited the aircraft and spoke to the crew and other personnel.

The airport remained operational during the incident and remains fully opened. (PR/NB)