BRADES, Montserrat – The John Osborne Airport remained closed today after a Fly Montserrat plane veered off the runway, stopping not far from a cliff, eyewitnesses said. There were no injuries.
A statement by the airline confirmed the incident, but said the pilot of Flight 2109 had taken the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the seven passengers.
“I can report that the aircraft landed normally. Decelerated along the runway, but the pilot thought that he felt a minor vibration and as a precaution let the aircraft roll gently onto the grass,” said Fly Montserrat owner, Nigel Harris.
He said the passengers had disembarked safely and there were “no injuries or damages to the aircraft”.
The incident followed the fatal crash of a Fly Montserrat plane on October 7, soon after taking off from the V.C. Bird International airport in Antigua, killing three people.
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) said “significant quantities of water” had been found in the engine of the ill-fated plane.
On Monday, Harris gave the public an assurance regarding the safety of the airline. (CMC)