CASTRIES, St. Lucia--Hummingbird Air has cancelled all passenger flights until further notice amidst an investigation into the cause of a second crash landing in three months.
In the latest incident, one of the airline’s 15-seater aircraft “encountered difficulty” upon landing at the George FL Charles Airport in Castries, St. Lucia, Sunday morning, according to a statement issued by the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA).
SLASPA confirmed that at approximately 8:46am, a Hummingbird Air BE99 veered off the runway towards the southern edge into a grassy area.
At the time of the incident the pilot was the only occupant of the plane and he reported no injuries.
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority is carrying out an investigation into the accident.
But a statement issued by Hummingbird Air indicated that it was also carrying out its own probe.
“The company has launched an internal investigation to determine the cause of this incident. Hummingbird Air has taken the decision to cancel all passenger flights until further notice,” said the carrier which flies to Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts. St. Maarten and the US and British Virgin Islands, and offers charter services to other islands.
Back in August, a Hummingbird Air plane veered off the runway in Barbuda and crashed into a nearby field, with five passengers on board, including company owner Sam Raphael.
No one was injured in that incident either and Raphael had praised the pilot for his handling of the accident. ~ Caribbean360 ~
