Safety first, 1time maintains
2012-08-06 19:24
Johannesburg - Low-cost airline 1time stressed on Monday that the pilot and officer aboard a plane that made an emergency landing at King Shaka International Airport followed the correct procedures.
According to a Captain Wayne Jefferies, director of flight operations, upon take-off from the Durban airport on Sunday all operations were normal, but soon after climbing above 500 feet above ground level, the captain heard a noteworthy noise, followed by a sudden jolt.
"A Mayday call was signalled by the first officer as the quick confirmation test done to check thrust parameters indicated damage to the engine," Jefferies said.
Both the captain and first officer followed procedures and deemed the incident as severe, and therefore made the decision to turn the aircraft around, and notified cabin crew and passengers that the aircraft would be returning to King Shaka International Airport rather than continue to Cape Town, he said.
Jeferies said passengers were advised that precautionary emergency procedures were in place upon landing, so that they would not feel alarmed by the sight of the response vehicles on the runway.
"We wish to reiterate that safety is our airline’s first and foremost priority, and that we will never compromise our passengers or crews' safety, and therefore every precaution was taken to return the aircraft safely to Durban," said Jefferies.
"1time airline sincerely regrets any inconvenience that was caused for passengers aboard the flight, as well as those that were delayed at the airport as a result. "
