WAYWARD BEHAVIOUR

Nov 22, 2018 Editorial

Plane crashes are rare in Guyana, but the crash-landing of a Fly Jamaica aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) destined for Toronto, Canada was not the first. On June 30, 2011, a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) plane overshot the runway at CJIA and crash-landed. It was the first major aircraft crash at CJIA.
Fortunately while there were no fatalities, several passengers were seriously injured and had to be hospitalized. And on November 2016, a CAL aircraft clipped the tail of a parked Fly Jamaica aircraft at CJIA. There were no injuries.
Preliminary reports on the Fly Jamaica flight indicate that the captain of the Boeing 757 aircraft had encountered some hydraulic problems shortly after takeoff and was forced to make an emergency landing on return.
The landing was smooth, but all emergency services were in place, including ranks at the Timehri Fire Service. The aircraft overshot the runway, careened into the chain link fence before stopping on a pile of sand, with its nose perched above a ravine.
The Boeing 757 sustained extensive damage.
According to aviation experts, the extended runway prevented major injuries to passengers. Everyone evacuated safely except for seven passengers with suspected spinal injuries. A few others were treated at the airport for minor injuries, perhaps by colliding with the tarmac at the end of the emergency chute that had been deployed during the evacuation. The crash forced the closure of the airport for a few hours.
Onboard the aircraft were 120 passengers, including two infants, and eight crew members, which included six Guyanese cabin members and two Jamaican pilots. In total there were 35 Guyanese passengers, one Trinidadian, 82 Canadians, one Pakistani and 11 American citizens on board.
In the wake of the crash, local aviation officials with the support of external agencies and officials from the U.S National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing Company have launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash.
What happened following the crash landing has stunned the nation. As if the passengers were not traumatized enough by the crash, they had to deal with the terrible ordeal of theft of their personal belongings allegedly by some ranks of the Timehri Fire Service, who are supposed to be first responders.
Fire fighters, police and Emergency Medical Technicians or ambulance attendants, among others are recognized internationally and in Guyana as first responders. They are expected to rescue people in life threatening situations such as accidents, aircraft crashes, fires and natural or man-made disasters.
The alleged theft of the personal belongings of the crew and passengers by Timehri firefighters is shameful, offensive and embarrassing to the country. Such lawless behaviour is immoral. It has tarnished the noble service of firefighters and has prompted the government to forcefully condemn the firemen. However, it was not the first depraved act by firefighters. In May 2016, four firefighters who responded to a fire at the home of Traffic Chief Dion Moore were arrested for the alleged theft of his cell phones.
What must not be forgotten is that the first responding firemen performed their task professionally. They placed their lives on the line by entering the aircraft which could have gone up in flames. The actions of a few should not then, condemn the entire fire service which seems to be the case at this time.
If nothing else, the theft perpetrated by the few rogue members of the Timehri Fire Service should be a staunch reminder of the need for more intense and rigorous screening and training of applicants to all the disciplined forces in the country.

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