The incorrect placement of threshold lights on Runway Six of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is one of the probable contributory causes of an incident involving an American Airlines (AA) flight six days ago, preliminary investigations have revealed.
According to a statement published on the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI)’s Facebook page, at approximately 00:34hrs on August 21, American Airlines flight AA1512, destined to Miami, was executing a turn on Runway Six threshold for take-off when the plane’s nose and right main gear tires were deflated after coming into contact with temporary threshold lights.
The 128 passengers and five crew members were transported from the aircraft to the terminal building via airport buses, it was stated. No injuries were reported. The runway was reopened for flight operation at around 04:40hrs, following the relocation of the aircraft.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in a statement today, said that while it is still conducting the investigation into the incident, preliminary findings suggest that the temporary threshold lights were before the transverse strip and not behind. In addition, the housing (case) of temporary threshold lights were not frangible.
“These factors are seen as probable contributory causes for the incident,” the authority stated, while adding that it anticipates concluding the investigation sometime next week and a press release will be issued when the final report is completed.
