Pilots, ATC suspended pending probe into runway incursion at CJIA

Disaster was averted Monday evening at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Timehri after two aircraft, a Roraima Airways Britten Norman Islander and a Caribbean Airlines Limited plane, ended up on the runway at the same time.

While there was no physical contact between the two planes and no injuries were recorded, an investigation has been launched into what the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Retired Lt. Col. Egbert Field, said is a “dangerous situation”.

In an interview on Wednesday, Field told this publication that the licences of the pilots and the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) have been suspended pending a preliminary report.

According to the GCAA head, the suspensions were made based on a standard policy in the aviation industry. He explained that Trinidadian authorities were informed of the runway incursion, and based on information received, the CAL pilot was also suspended.

However, Field could not say when the preliminary report would be ready but assured that the suspension would be lifted once no culpability is found.

This publication understands that the Roraima-owned aircraft had landed at the CJIA and was still on the runway when the Caribbean Airlines aircraft was also given clearance to land.

The probe will ascertain how and why this runway incursion occurred and investigators will make the necessary recommendations on the action to be taken against anyone found culpable.